''Linepithema'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of small ants in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Dolichoderinae Dolichoderinae is a subfamily of ants, which includes species such as the Argentine ant (''Linepithema humile''), the erratic ant, the odorous house ant, and the cone ant. The subfamily presents a great diversity of species throughout the world ...

Distribution

Their native distribution rage from northern

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, east into the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

, and south into northern

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

. Two species have been spread around the world by human activities: ''L. iniquum'' and ''L. humile''. The latter is better known as the Argentine ant, an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

with notable presence in

Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

s. ''Linepithema'' species are found from

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardised g ...

and up to 4,000 meters above sea level in the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

Species

*'' Linepithema anathema'' *'' Linepithema angulatum'' *''

Linepithema aztecoides ''Linepithema aztecoides'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Wild in 2007, the species is endemic to Brazil and Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=n ...

'' *'' Linepithema cerradense'' *'' Linepithema cryptobioticum'' *'' Linepithema dispertitum'' *'' Linepithema flavescens'' *''

Linepithema fuscum ''Linepithema fuscum'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Mayr in 1866, the species is endemic to South America. ''Linepithema fucsum'' was the first species-level name assigned to genus ''Linepithema'' by Mayr. It is ...

'' *''

Linepithema gallardoi ''Linepithema gallardoi'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Juan Brèthes in 1914, the species is endemic to South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the S ...

'' *''

Linepithema humile The Argentine ant (''Linepithema humile''), formerly ''Iridomyrmex humilis'', is an ant native to northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and southern Brazil. It is an invasive species that has been established in many Mediterranean climat ...

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Linepithema inacatum ''Linepithema inacatum'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Bolton in 1995, the species is endemic to Argentina and Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is ...

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Linepithema iniquum ''Linepithema iniquum'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Mayr in 1870, the species is endemic to South America and invasive in Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its ...

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Linepithema keiteli ''Linepithema keiteli'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Forel in 1907, the species is endemic to Haiti Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, ...

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Linepithema leucomelas ''Linepithema leucomelas'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Emery in 1894, the species is endemic to Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest ...

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Linepithema micans ''Linepithema micans'' is a small species of ant from the genus ''Linepithema'' which was described by Forel in 1908. This ant is endemic to southern South America. In Brazil, it is considered a pest of vineyards in acting as the main species as ...

'' *''

Linepithema neotropicum ''Linepithema neotropicum'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Wild in 2007, the species is endemic to South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Souther ...

'' *''

Linepithema oblongum ''Linepithema oblongum'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Linepithema''. Described by Santschi in 1929, the species is endemic to South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southe ...

'' *'' Linepithema piliferum'' *'' Linepithema pulex'' *'' Linepithema tsachila''

References

External links

* Dolichoderinae Ant genera Hymenoptera of North America Hymenoptera of South America {{Dolichoderinae-stub