Ants of South Carolina (species list) [South Carolina Pest Ants] [South Carolina Exotic Ants]
Joe MacGown
The following list of ant species includes 127 species. This species is based on literature records, personal communication with various ant researchers, and from specimens in the the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM). Marion Smith (1934) published the first list of ants of South Carolina, and subsequent researchers such as Van Pelt and Gentry (1985) added to his work.
Clicking on a species name will lead to a page with further information and photographs of that species. Although species pages are at various levels of progress, most pages now have representative photographs of at least workers of the species. In addition to the photographs of ants taken by Joe MacGown at the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM), many photos are used, with permission, from AntWeb, a web site about ants of the world with amazing photos. Another site with photographs of ants is "Discover Life." The Discover Life site provides a list of North American ants with photos at "Kinds of Ants, Ants of North America Page". On each individual MEM species page, a link is provided (at the bottom of the page) for that species on both the AntWeb site and the Discover Life ant site. Additionally, many of the species found in this list can be identified using the identification keys found on this web site.
The list presented is arranged by subfamily, tribe, and genus according to Bolton (2003). Names follow Bolton (1995), except Dorymyrmex, which follows Snelling (1995); Pyramica, which follows Bolton (2000); Aphaenogaster, which follows Umphrey (1996); Pheidole, which follows Wilson (2003); and Crematogaster, which follows Johnson (1988) and Deyrup (2003). For species that are introduced or considered to be pest species, that designation is given following the species name. For species whose origin is uncertain, the word "introduced" is followed by the "?" symbol. Similarly, for questionable pest species, the word "pest" is followed by the "?" symbol. Pest species include species that are considered to be serious pests, in that they may cause significant damage or health problems, to mild, nuisance pests.
Family Formicidae
Subfamily Dolichoderinae
Tribe Dolichoderini
Dolichoderus mariae Forel [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Dolichoderus plagiatus (Mayr) [Smith, 1934]
Dolichoderus pustulatus Mayr [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985; MacKay, 1993]
Dorymyrmex bureni (Trager) [Trager, 1988]
Dorymyrmex flavopectus Smith ? [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Dorymyrmex grandulus (Forel) [Trager, 1988]
Dorymyrmex smithi Cole [MEM]
Forelius pruinosus (Roger) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Linepithema humile (Mayr) (introduced, pest) [Smith, 1934]
Tapinoma sessile (Say) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Technomyrmex difficilis Forel (introduced, pest-previously misidentified as T. albipes (Smith), see Wetterer, 2008)
Subfamily Formicinae
Tribe Lasiini
Lasius alienus (Foerster) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Lasius claviger (Roger) [Smith, 1934]
Lasius flavus (Fabricius) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Lasius interjectus (Mayr) [Smith, 1934]
Lasius latipes (Walsh) [Smith, 1965]
Lasius neoniger Emery [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Lasius umbratus (Nylander) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Nylanderia arenivaga (Wheeler) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Nylanderia bourbonica (Forel) (introduced, pest ) [Smith, 1934; Trager, 1984; Smith, 1979]
Nylanderia parvula (Mayr) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) (introduced, pest) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Prenolepis imparis (Say) (pest?) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Plagiolepidini
Brachymyrmex depilis Emery [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr (introduced, pest) [MEM]
Tribe Camponotini
Camponotus americanus Mayr (pest) [Smith, 1934]
Camponotus caryae (Fitch) (pest) [Smith, 1934]
Camponotus castaneus (Latreille) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Camponotus chromaiodes Bolton (pest) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Camponotus decipiens Emery (pest) [Smith, 1934]
Camponotus discolor (Buckley) (pest) [Smith, 1979]
Camponotus floridanus (Buckley) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Camponotus impressus (Roger) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Camponotus mississippiensis Smith [Smith, 1934]
Camponotus nearcticus Emery (pest) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Camponotus obliquus Smith [Smith, 1934]
Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Camponotus snellingi Bolton (pest) [Smith, 1934]
Camponotus socius Roger (pest) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Formicini
Formica biophilica Trager [Trager et al., 2007]
Formica difficilis Emery [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Formica dolosa Buren [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Formica integra Nylander [Smith, 1934]
Formica pallidefulva Latreille [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Formica subintegra Wheeler [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Formica subsericea Say [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Polyergus longicornis Smith [Smith, 1979]
Polyergus lucidus Mayr [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae
Tribe Pseudomyrmecini
Pseudomyrmex ejectus (Smith) (pest?) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pseudomyrmex pallidus (Smith) (pest?) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Subfamily Ecitoninae
Tribe Ecitonini
Neivamyrmex carolinensis (Emery) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Neivamyrmex nigrescens (Cresson) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Neivamyrmex opacithorax (Emery) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Neivamyrmex texanus Watkins [Smith, 1979]
Subfamily Amblyoponinae
Tribe Amblyoponini
Amblyopone pallipes (Haldeman) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Subfamily Ponerinae
Tribe Ponerini
Hypoponera inexorata (Wheeler) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Hypoponera opaciceps (Mayr) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Hypoponera opacior (Forel) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pachycondyla chinensis (Emery) (introduced, pest) [MEM]
Pachycondyla gilva (Roger)[Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Ponera pennsylvanica Buckley [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Subfamily Proceratiinae
Tribe Proceratiini
Proceratium croceum (Roger) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985; Baroni Urbani and de Andrade, 2003]
Proceratium pergandei (Emery) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985; Baroni Urbani and de Andrade, 2003]
Proceratium silaceum Roger [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985; Baroni Urbani and de Andrade, 2003]
Subfamily Myrmicinae
Tribe Dacetini
Pyramica angulata (Smith) [Bolton, 2000]
Pyramica bunki (Brown) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pyramica carolinensis (Brown) [Bolton, 2000]
Pyramica creightoni (Smith) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pyramica dietrichi (Smith) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pyramica membranifera (Emery) (introduced) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pyramica ornata (Mayr) [Bolton, 2000]
Pyramica pulchella (Emery) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pyramica rostrata (Emery) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pyramica talpa (Weber) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Strumigenys louisianae Roger [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Attini
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (McCook) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Stenammini
Stenamma meridionale Smith [Smith, 1957]
Tribe Solenopsidini
Monomorium minimum (Buckley) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus) (introduced, pest) [Smith, 1934]
Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Solenopsis globularia Creighton [Smith, 1934]
Solenopsis invicta Buren (introduced, pest) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Solenopsis molesta (Say) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Solenopsis pergandei Forel [ Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Solenopsis picta Emery [Smith, 1979; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Solenopsis texana Emery [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Solenopsis xyloni McCook pest [Smith, 1934]
Tribe Myrmicini
Myrmica pinetorum Wheeler [Smith, 1934]
Myrmica punctiventris Roger [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pogonomyrmex badius (Latreille) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Tetramoriini
Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander) (introduced, pest) [Smith, 1934]
Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus) ) (introduced, pest) [Smith, 1934]
Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr (introduced, pest) [Smith, 1934; Smith, 1979]
Tribe Pheidolini
Aphaenogaster ashmeadi Emery [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster carolinensis Wheeler [Smith, 1934]
Aphaenogaster flemingi Smith [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster floridana Smith [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster fulva Roger [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster mariae Forel [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster miamiana Wheeler [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster picea (Wheeler) [Smith, 1934]
Aphaenogaster rudis Enzmann [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (Mayr) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Aphaenogaster treatae Forel [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole bicarinata Mayr (pest?) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole crassicornis Emery [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole davisi Wheeler [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole dentata Mayr (pest?) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole dentigula Smith [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole metallescens Emery [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole morrisi Forel [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole pilifera (Roger) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Pheidole tysoni Forel [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Crematogastrini
Crematogaster ashmeadi Mayr (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Crematogaster atkinsoni Wheeler [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Crematogaster cerasi (Fitch) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Crematogaster lineolata (Say) (pest) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Crematogaster minutissima Mayr [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Crematogaster missuriensis Emery [Smith, 1934]
Crematogaster pilosa Emery (pest) [Smith, 1934 - reported as C. laeviuscula]
Tribe Formicoxenini
Temnothorax curvispinosus (Mayr) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Temnothorax pergandei (Emery) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Temnothorax schaumii (Roger) [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Temnothorax texanus (Wheeler) [Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Tribe Myrmecinini
Myrmecina americana Emery [Smith, 1934; Van Pelt and Gentry, 1985]
Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. Vol. 65, part 1-2.
MacKay, W. P. 1993. A review of the New World ants of the genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 22: 1-148.
Smith, D. R. 1979. In Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D. C. Vol. 2, pp. 1323-1427.
Smith, M.R. 1918. A key to the known species of South Carolina ants, with notes (Hym.). Entomol. News 29: 17–29.
Smith, M. R. 1934. A list of the ants of South Carolina. The Journal of the New York Entomological Society 42: 353-361.
Smith, M. R. 1957. Revision of the genus Stenamma Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The American Midland Naturalist 57: 133-174.
Smith, M. R. 1965. House-infesting ants of the Eastern United States, their recognition, biology, and economic importance. United States Department of Agriculture, Technical Bulletin No. 1326: i-105.
Trager, J. C. 1984. A revision of the genus Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the continental United States. Sociobiology 9: 49-162.
Trager, J. C. 1988. A revision of the Conomyrma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the southeastern United States, especially Florida, with keys to the species. Florida Entomologist 71: 11-29.
Van Pelt, A., and J. B. Gentry. 1985. "The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina." Dept. Energy, Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC., Report SRO-NERP-14, 56 p.
Wetterer, J. K. 2008. Technomyrmex difficilis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae (in the West Indies). Florida Entomologist 91: 428-430.
