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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
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Project Title:
Integrated Pest Management for Pachycondyla Chinensis, A Medically-Important Invasive Ant |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: SC Lead Organization: Clemson University |
| Undesignated Funding: $18,527 |
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Start Date: Aug-01-2006 End Date: Jul-31-2007 |
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Pests Involved: Pachycondyla chinensis |
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Summary:
Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) is an invasive ant commonly known in Japan as the giant needle ant because of its sting. In the United States, it is documented from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and unpublished records of this ant also are available from Tennessee. Although P. chinensis has been in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, it has only come to our attention in the past five years. We have found that when present in forest and urban habitats in upstate South Carolina, this ant is a dominant species to the exclusion of many native ants commonly found in similar habitats. In addition to the impact it may have on biodiversity of native species, Pachycondyla chinensis poses a threat to public health in the U.S. Systemic allergic reactions due to P. chinensis stings leading to anaphylaxis previously were documented in Japan and South Korea, and recently we documented a case of anaphylaxis in South Carolina. In a survey of 25 sting victims, with reactions that are not life threatening (local urticaria to large local reactions), we found symptoms may last for 2 h to 14 d. Initially, no one in our study knew the source of their stings, but later could readily identify P. chinensis once they learned to recognize it. We speculate that in many areas of the Southeast when a person is stung by an ant, the sting is attributed to the red imported fire ant because of its prevalence and notoriety. While the reason is unknown, we have observed dramatic increases in P. chinensis populations in upstate South Carolina in the past few years and have reports of similar changes in Tennessee. As awareness of this species grows, we must be prepared to respond to questions from the public and professional pest management communities. Currently little is known about the geographic range of this species and pest management recommendations are only speculative. The goals of the research we propose are 1) increase the awareness of P. chinensis in public and professional communities, 2) investigate the geographic range of this ant and 3) gain a foundation for developing an integrated pest management program.
Objectives: Specifically the objectives are: Objective 1: Prepare information on Pachycondyla chinensis for distribution to the public, professional pest managers and to entomologists at other Southeastern universities; Objective 2: Determine the geographic range of Pachycondyla chinensis in the Southeastern U.S.; Objective 3: Evaluate potential components for a Pachycondyla chinensis IPM program. |
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Final Report: |
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Project Type: IPM Seed Grant or IPM Capstone Grant The project proposal was submitted under the IPM Enhancement Grants Program-Special projects RFP. It served as a seed grant to increase the awareness of a new pest ant species, determine it's geographic distribution and to gain a foundation for developing an integrated pest management program. |
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Non-technical summary The ant species studied in this project, the Asian needle ant, was first documented in the United States in 1932, but only recently has it emerged as a common species. Originally it was found in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and at the beginning of this project had also been collected in Tennessee. It does not routinely enter structures and the colonies tend to be smaller than other pest species. However, the pest status of this species is related to its medical importance. While it is not an aggressive ant, it does sting when threatened, and cases of extreme allergic reaction have been noted including anaphylaxis. There was no information in either the primary or secondary literature on which to base control strategies and we were interested in developing a preliminary template for pest management professionals to follow. The Asian needle ant also appears to displace native ant species in urban and woodland habitats. Ants are an important factor in the regulation of many other insects. It is unknown what impact the presence of Asian needle ants may have on the pest status of species in the communities in which they exist. The preliminary research conducted within the bounds of this research proposal set as goals to 1) increase the awareness of the Asian needle ants in public and professional communities, 2) investigate the geographic range of this ant, and 3) gain a foundation for developing an integrated pest management program. Specifically the objectives were to prepare information on Asian needle ants for distribution to the public, professional pest managers and to entomologists at other Southeastern universities; to determine the geographic range of the Asian needle ant in the Southeastern U.S.; and to evaluate potential components for an Asian needle ant IPM program. |
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Introduction |
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Introduction Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an invasive, stinging ant endemic to southeastern Asia, is emerging as a public-health threat and a dominant species in the urban and forest habitats in which it is found. Although it is abundant in some areas, it is rarely identified. The range of this species in North America is documented in the literature as Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. The biology of this ponerine ant is not well studied, but it is reported to prefer nesting in dark, damp areas in soil beneath stones, logs, stumps, and debris. Where it occurs locally in northwestern South Carolina, we find P. chinensis in those habitats and under mulch, landscape features such as railroad ties, ornamental stones, concrete pavers, and other elements common in urban settings. When present in urban and forest habitats in upstate South Carolina, P. chinensis, is a dominant ant species and appears to displace native ant species. In addition to its potential to displace native ants, P. chinensis is a significant threat to public health. The venom in its sting causes a broad range of allergic reactions from local urticaria to anaphylaxis. Systemic allergic reactions have been reported in P. chinensis sting victims from Japan, South Korea, North Carolina and South Carolina where it has been documented as an emerging public-health threat. With reactions that are not life threatening, symptoms last for 2 h to 14 d. It is curious why such an abundant, medically-threatening ant is relatively unknown. Although P. chinensis is a dominant ant species where it is established, we received few inquiries about this species from the public. We speculated that in many areas of the Southeast when a person is stung by an ant, the sting is attributed to Solenopsis invicta (Buren) because of its prevalence and notoriety. To further confound the ability of P. chinensis to hide in the open is the fact that the species name for this ant has five synonyms and it does not appear in dichotomous ant keys for the United States. The full extent of the geographic range for this species is unknown in the United States. However, given that it is not a well-recognized ant even by entomologists, and that it is not documented in areas where we observed extensive infestations, we speculated that the geographic range of P. chinensis was much larger than current literature indicated. |
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Outputs Extension fact sheet (unknown number of downloads): Zungoli, P.A., E.P. Benson and E.P. Paysen. 2008. Asian needle ant. Clemson University EIIS/MV-18 (05/2008) br>Trade Magazine Article (Leading publication for the pest control industry in U.S. and Canada): Paysen , E.P., P.A., Zungoli, and E.P. Benson. 2007. Packing a Punch. Pest Control Technology 35(4): 55, 56, 58, 60 Proceedings: br>Zungoli, P.A. and E.P. Benson. Seasonal Occurrence of Swarming Activity and Worker abundance of Pachycondyla chinensis. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Urban Pests. (300 proc. published) br> Presentations: Zungoli, P.A. Chinese needle ant research. SC Pest Control Association Annual Meeting. February, 2007 (400 participants) br>Zungoli, P. A. Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery), an invasive species of medical importance in South Carolina. Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Mosquito Control Association. November, 2006 (135 participants) Zungoli, P. A. The giant needle ant, a new stinging species in the urban environment. Greater Midlands Pest Control Association. November, 2006 (212 participants) Zungoli, P.A. 2008. CU Research - Update: Pachycondyla chinensis. Annual Meeting of the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials. Charleston, SC. August 2007. (175 participants) Zungoli, P.A. Ant Biology, Identification and Control. Forshaw Seminar Series. ( 200 + people in attendance) Charlotte, NC November, 2007 Zungoli, P.A. and E. P. Benson. Laboratory evaluation of granular insecticides and baits against Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. San Diego. December, 2007 (75 participants) Zungoli, P.A. Research Report-Update on Asian Needle Ant Research- 49th Annual Pest Management Professional School. February, 2008. (400 participants) Zungoli, P.A. The Asian Needle Ant, Pachycondyla chinensis-An Old Immigrant Causing New Problems. Department of Entomology University of Georgia. April, 2008 (42 participants) Zungoli, P. and E. Benson. The thriving invasion of medically important the Asian needle ant. National Conference on Urban Entomology. Tulsa, OK May, 2008. (75 participants) Workshops: Master Pest Control Technician Course- June 2008 (18 participants); June 2009 (14 participants). |
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Economic impacts N/A |
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Environmental impacts N/A |
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Effects on Collaboration The research supported by this grant was instrumental in our collaboration with pest control professionals in South Carolina, personnel at two zoos, and researchers in TN. Through multiple presentations, we were able to disseminate information to regional and national audiences. |
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Impacts on human health risk N/A We could not measure health impacts in terms of reduced pesticide risk. |
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Appendices n/a |
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