This list was compiled from an initial survey of the Reserve in the year 2000, and from detailed trapping from September 2002 to June 2003. A total of 2340 pitfall traps were set. 2160 of these traps set in oak woodland/grassland habitat and 2145 traps recovered. 180 traps were set in the chaparral site, with 178 recovered. The missing traps were due to coyote and gopher activities.
# Scientific Name Notes 1 Camponotus anthrax 2 Camponotus hyatti 3 Camponotus sp. undescribed subgenus 4 Camponotus vicinus 5 Cardiocondyla ectopia introduced 6 Crematogaster californica 7 Crematogaster coarctata 8 Dorymyrmex bicolor 9 Dorymyrmex insana 10 Forelius mccooki 11 Formica moki 12 Hypoponera opacior record from singleton male 13 Linepithema humile record from singleton male 14 Liometopum occidentale 15 Messor andrei 16 Messor stoddardi 17 Monomorium ergatogyna 18 Myrmecina americana 19 Myrmecocystus flaviceps 20 Myrmecocystus mimicus 21 Myrmecocystus testaceus 22 Myrmecocystus wheeleri 23 Neivamyrmex californicus 24 Neivamyrmex nigrescens 25 Neivamyrmex opacithorax 26 Paratrechina vividula introduced 27 Pheidole californica 28 Pheidole hyatti 29 Pheidole sp. undescribed species 30 Pheidole vistana 31 Pognomyrmex rugosus 32 Pogonomyrmex californicus 33 Pogonomyrmex subnitidus 34 Prenolepis imparis 35 Pseudomyrmex apache 36 Solenopsis aurea 37 Solenopsis maniosa also known as Solenopsis xyloni 38 Solenopsis sp. molesta complex 39 Stenamma diecki 40 Stenamma punctatoventre 41 Tapinoma sessile 42 Temnothorax andrei In addition, in April of 2001, I found a colony of red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis wagneri, several meters from the reserve boundaries in newly-planted landscaping. The RIFA colony was reported to, and eradicated by, the California Department of Food and Agriculture. No RIFA were observed in post-treatment inspections of this site.
It is noteworthy that only a single individual Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, was found. In urbanized and agricultural settings Argentine ants are now the dominant ant species, with few native-ant species coexisting in the areas dominated by this species. In most undisturbed natural areas, ant communities are free of non-native ant species. With the development now occurring next to the Reserve, it will be interesting to see if Argentine ants become more numerous in the future.
Go to Field Guide to the Santa Rosa Plateau
Copyright © 2005 by Tina Smith.
Permission is freely granted to reproduce any or all of this page as long as credit is given to me at this source:
http://tchester.org/srp/animals/index.html
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Updated 19 October 2005