Pachycondyla chinensis

Nomenclature

Species: Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery, 1895)

Usage: valid
Vernacular name: Asian Needle Ant

External links

Antweb | Antwiki | EOL | BOLD

Risk statement

Pachycondyla chinensis is a significant and emerging pest in the southeastern United States.

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species

Antenna 12-segmented. Antennal scapes exceed posterior head margin. Anterior margin of clypeus not denticulate. Eyes medium to large (greater than 6 facets); situated distinctly below midline of head. Frontal lobes present. Clypeus with anterior margin flat to convex, but never forming a distinct triangle that projects anteriorly beyond the base of the mandibles. Mandibles triangular; with 7 teeth. Metanotum does not form a prominent convexity bordered by distinct suture lines. Hind tibia with both pectinate spur and simple spur. Tarsal claws lacking subapical tooth, hind coxae lacking dorsal spine. Waist 1-segmented. Petiole narrowly attached to gaster with conspicuous posterior face. Gaster armed with sting. Abdominal segment 4 lacking deep longitudinal furrows. Distinct constriction between abdominal segments 3+4. Color dark brown to black with paler appendages. Pachycondyla chinensis is easily distinguished from species of Anochetus, Odontomachus and Leptogenys by its triangular mandibles. Among species of Hypoponera and Ponera that are introduced to or commonly intercepted in the United States, P. chinensis can be distinguished by its large eyes which are composed of more than 6 facets (versus 0–6), its mandibles which have exactly 7 teeth (versus more than 7), and by its hind tibia that has both a pectinate spur and simple spur (versus only a simple spur). These character states also separates P. chinensis from P. stigma, which has less than 6 eye facets and exactly 5 mandibular teeth.

Distribution

Native range. North temperate to subtropical Asia.

Introduced range. Southeastern United States.

Click here for updated occurrence data and map on GBIF.org

Videos of live ants

Pachycondyla chinensis at sugar bait, North Carolina, USA

This species is an ecologically invasive pest species that displaces native ants in the eastern United States. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com	This species is an ecologically invasive pest species that displaces native ants in the eastern United States. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Adult. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com	This species is a termite predator. Here, two workers process a recently killed Reticulitermes worker. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Lateral view of body, entire, adult worker. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org.	Dorsal view of body, entire, adult worker. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org.
Anterior view of head, adult worker. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org.	Anterior view of eye / ocellus, adult worker. Eyes distinctly below midline of head. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org, modified.
Anterior dorsal view of mandibles, adult worker. Mandibles with seven teeth. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org, modified.	Close-up view of mandibles, adult worker. The mandibles with seven teeth and denticles. Used in Antkey to separate Pachycondyla chinensis from Pachycondyla stigma and Hypoponera species.
Lateral view of waist, adult worker. Waist with only one segment. Photo by April Nobile, Antweb.org, modified.