Ability to Respond Total:16 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Mostly by human activities, easily transported with soil or plant material.
4
Spread Amount
Unlikely to colonize cooler areas, this ant readily invades disturbed sites. May also colonize climate-controlled areas (ie. Homes and businesses).
4
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Capable of displacing native species, may also reduce numbers of native butterfly eggs and larvae.
2
Agricultural
Tends honeydew producing insects (i.e., aphids), may injure field workers, may chew through drip irrigation lines.
2
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Gardening nuisance.
1
Health
Inflicts painful sting, in some cases anaphalaxis may occur.
2
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
15
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Detection must be made visually, ie. Noticing the presence of ants or ant hills that appear different than what is normally present. Detection may also be made physically (ie. Getting stung).
2
Control
Chemical treatments are most effective; if infestation is bad, year-round control program should be adopted. Infestations must be detected quickly, otherwise eradication is very difficult and costly.
