Acromyrmex octospinosus

Acromyrmex octospinosus is a host species of the social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator.

Identification
Median pronotal spines usually present and distinct, occasionally reduced or absent; head tapering behind eyes; head width less than or equal to 1.7 mm.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Biology
Boulogne et al. (2018) - Acromyrmex octospinosus causes serious damage to fields crops, pastures and plantations due to their foraging activities for its symbiotic fungus cultivation (Pérez et al 2011). Estimated damage was, for example, several million dollars per year in USA and Brazil (Cameron & Riggs 1985). A. octospinosus is native to South and Central America and exotic to Guadeloupe. This species was introduced in Guadeloupe in 1954 and progressively colonized the entire territory (Boulogne et al 2014), causing ongoing damage in both agricultural and protected areas. The 1995 cyclone favored ant invasion in natural areas where some plant species, such as the endemic arborescent ferns of the genus Cyathea, are now threatened and might completely disappear (Boulogne et al 2014). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) classifies this ant among the most serious pests of tropical and subtropical America (Pollard 1982).

Fernandez- Marin et al. (2003) - Incipient nests of Acromyrmex octospinosus have only 3-7 workers.

Nehring et al. (2015) - While this species is parastized by queens of Acromyrmex insinuator, this social parasite is not able to reproduce in Acromyrmex octospinosus colonies. The sympatric Acromyrmex echinatior is also parasitized by A. insinuator and is able to reproduce within colonies of this other host.

Weber (1958) - The springtail species Cyphoderus inaequalis Folsom (Lepidocyrtidae: Cyphoderinae) is known from nests of this ant.

Nomenclature

 *  octospinosus. Formica octospinosa Reich, 1793: 132 (w.) FRENCH GUIANA. Forel, 1893e: 590 (s.q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. 1949: 674 (l.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986d: 496 (l.). Combination in Atta: Emery, 1892b: 163; in Atta (Acromyrmex): Forel, 1893e: 590; in Acromyrmex: Mann, 1916: 454. Senior synonym of guentheri: Emery, 1894c: 220; of pallida Crawley: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 70. See also: Gonçalves, 1961: 157. Current subspecies: nominal plus cubanus, ekchuah, inti.
 * guentheri. Atta (Acromyrmex) guentheri Forel, 1893e: 594 (s.w.q.m.) TRINIDAD. Junior synonym of octospinosus: Emery, 1894c: 220.
 * pallida. Acromyrmex octospinosa var. pallida Crawley, 1921: 92 (s.w.) GUYANA. [Unresolved junior secondary homonym of Oecodoma pallida Smith, above.] Junior synonym of octospinosus: Wheeler, W.M. 1937c: 70.