Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Lesser Antilles

Abstract

In surveys of the 15 largest islands of the Lesser Antilles, we found the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, on the 7 northernmost islands, including additional records of S. invicta on Antigua (20 sites) and the first records of S. invicta from Anguilla (15 sites), Barbuda (16 sites), Montserrat (5 sites), Nevis (25 sites), St. Kitts (21 sites), and St. Martin (13 sites). Solenopsis invicta was widespread in disturbed open environments on 6 of the 7 islands, but appears to be recently established on Montserrat, found only near the airport and the main seaport. Solenopsis invicta has not yet been recorded from the southern Lesser Antilles (i.e., Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Barbados), but it is probably only a matter of time before these islands are also invaded.