Observations of acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) preying on the eggs of the invasive giant applesnail (Pomacea maculata)

Jacoby Carter; Jennifer Wilson; Susan Mopper

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USGS · 70217904

Observations of acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) preying on the eggs of the invasive giant applesnail (Pomacea maculata)

Jacoby Carter·Jennifer Wilson·Susan Mopper

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Abstract

Herein we provide direct evidence for the consumption of Pomacea maculata (Giant Applesnail) eggs by ants in the genus Crematogaster . The observations were made during removal of snail egg masses at the Hudson Woods Unit of the Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge, TX. We observed acrobat ants ( Crematogaster sp.) removing snail eggs from an egg mass and carrying eggs back to their nest. While predation on Pomacea applesnail eggs has been reported elsewhere, to our knowledge this is the first time that it has been observed in North America.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 28.71226974306188° to 29.456339680309885° latitude; -95.96832275390624° to -94.86145019531249° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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BibTeX RIS

Jacoby Carter, Jennifer Wilson, Susan Mopper. 2021. Observations of acrobat ants (Crematogaster sp.) preying on the eggs of the invasive giant applesnail (Pomacea maculata). https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70217904

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