The Little Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A Global Perspective

Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) is an invasive tramp ant species that has been transported globally since [at least] the early twentieth century. It is often claimed that despite the negative impacts associated with this species and its listing among the world's worst invasive species, very little research attention has been paid to W. auropuntata. Although the need for future research exists, there is currently a considerable body of research from around the world and spanning back to the 1920's on this species. Here we synthesize over 200 peer reviewed research manuscripts, book chapters, conference presentations, and media reports of new distributions spanning 1929–2022 culminating in a comprehensive literature review on W. auropunctata. This review covers all current knowledge on this species and is intended to serve as a quick reference for future research and provide the reference resources for those seeking more in-depth information on specific topics. Topics included in this review include taxonomic identification, current global distribution and pathways, life history, impacts, detection, and control. We discuss where consensus and ambiguity currently lie within the research community, identify contextual considerations for future researchers when interpreting data, and suggest where we believe more research or clarifications are needed.