New ant records from La Réunion Island (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Area of Science:

• Myrmecology
• Island biogeography
• Biodiversity research

Background:

• La Réunion Island's ant fauna is predominantly introduced, influenced by human activities.
• Existing inventories are incomplete, necessitating updated faunistic records for biodiversity assessment.
• Oceanic islands are highly susceptible to biological invasions, making documentation crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document new ant species occurrences on La Réunion Island.
• To update the species checklist and enhance understanding of regional biodiversity.
• To contribute to knowledge of species distribution and invasion dynamics on islands.

Main Methods:

• Recent fieldwork conducted on La Réunion Island.
• Identification and recording of newly discovered ant species.
• Comparison with existing literature and databases for verification.

Main Results:

• Eight new ant species are reported for La Réunion Island: *Brachymymex australis*, *Cardiocondyla obscurior*, *Monomorium exiguum*, *Pheidole parva*, *Solenopsis globularia*, *Solenopsis* gr. pygmaea, *Stigmatomma* cf. *zwaluwenburgi*, and *Strumigenys membranifera*.
• All newly reported species are introduced, with varying degrees of invasiveness.
• The total known ant fauna of La Réunion Island is now 62 species.

Conclusions:

• The study expands the known ant diversity of La Réunion Island with new introduced species.
• Further research is needed to verify existing records and explore potential new discoveries in various habitats.
• Understanding invasion dynamics is key for managing biodiversity on vulnerable oceanic islands.