Technomyrmex difficilis

Habitat: Tropical, near human habitation, gardens, parks, plant nurseries, etc. In Missouri, in conservatories, etc. where tropical plants from Florida nurseries are grown, e.g. the Missouri Botanical Garden Climatron.

Natural History: There is a largely informal literature on this ant as a household, garden and greenhouse pest in tropical areas, including southern Florida, virtually all under the species name albipes. Considered a serious and growing pest problem in southern Florida, in Missouri it is a greenhouse and conservatory pest that tends and cultivates scale insects and other plant pests, and scavenges for dead insects, food scraps, etc. It may also displace earlier waves of greenhouse ants, as it has displaced the superficially similar Paratrechina bourbonica at the Climatron.

Maui, Oahu, Kahoolawe

Technomyrmex mayri r. difficilis Forel, 1892o: 242 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR. Malagasy. Primary type information: Madagascar, Nosibe, Village de l’Imerina coll. Sikora; CASENT0101932; MHNG AntCat AntWiki HOL

Taxonomic history

Senior synonym of Technomyrmex mayri nitidulans: Bolton, 2007b PDF: 47.Status as species: Bolton, 2007b PDF: 47.