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Click here to go back Details of this species in Gabon Status: Alien Invasiveness: Invasive Occurrence: Reported Source: Wetterer, James K. Arrival Date: Before 1914 Introduction: Species Notes for this Location: The little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) is an invasive alien species found in Gabon in the following land cover type: Tropical Rainforest Management Notes for this Location: Location Notes: Impacts: Other: "Wetterer et al. (1999) found anecdotal evidence of an impact onvertebrates in Gabon. House cats (Felis catus) at Lopé often have W.auropunctata in their fur, and several cats developed corneal cloudingand blindness. William Karesh, field veterinarian for Wildlife Conserva-tion Society, found the cats' symptoms consistent with trauma, not communicable disease. More disturbingly, elephants (Loxodonta africana) with cloudy corneas arecommon in Lopé and Petit Loango, as well as Wonga Wongué Reserveon the central coast of Gabon (100 km south of Libreville). The possibleconnection between W. auropunctata and eye maladies deserves furtherstudy." Reduction in native biodiversity: W. auropunctata has a negative impact on the native ant community in Gabon. Nine sites In Lope National Park were surveyed. A highly significant correlation between ant diversity and length of infestation by W. auropunctata was found. Many more native ant species were present in areas not infested with W. auropunctata (39.0 ± 4.6) compared with areas infested by W. auropunctata for approximately 5–10 yr (7.0 ± 6.2 and 1.7 ± 1.2, respectively). In infested areas, W. auropunctata made up the bulk of specimens collected in every plot (Walker, 2006). Last Modified: 2/05/2005 9:36:50 a.m.