Abstract
Alien ant species (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) cause serious damage worldwide. Early detection of invasion and rapid management are significant for controlling these species. However, these attempts are sometimes hindered by the need for direct detection techniques, such as capture, visual observation, or morphological identification. In this study, we demonstrated that environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can be used as a monitoring tool for alien ants using Linepithema humile (Argentine ant), one of the most invasive ants, as a model species. We designed a new real-time PCR assay specific to L. humile and successfully detected eDNA from the surface soil. The reliability of eDNA analysis was substantiated by comparing eDNA detection results with traditional survey results. Additionally, we examined the relationship between eDNA concentration and distance from nests and trails. Our results support the effectiveness of eDNA for alien ant monitoring and suggest that this new method could improve our ability to detect invasive ant species.
Highlights
Alien ant species (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) have significant ecological and economic impacts[1,2,3]
None of the negative controls showed any amplification signals. These results show that the primers and probe designed in this study were suitable for specific amplification of L. humile DNA in our study area, and that the amplification level was scarcely affected by genetic differences between supercolonies
Discussion Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection assay for alien ant species
Summary
Alien ant species (Formicidae, Hymenoptera) have significant ecological and economic impacts[1,2,3]. Direct observations and/or bait trap surveys have been performed to monitor ant populations[20,21] Such methods have disadvantages such as the requirement for significant labor input, time, and expenditure. Very closely related ant species sometimes only have few differences, such as the number of setae This makes it challenging to discriminate between the alien species to be controlled and the native species to be conserved[22,23], so that alien species may have become established within the native population by the time people perceive their invasion. The invasive ants were controlled with poison bait and pesticide spray Another area, Port Island, was invaded by this species in 1 99931. We (1) developed a real-time PCR assay specific to L. humile, (2) detected eDNA of L. humile from surface soil samples and compared it with traditional survey data, and (3) examined the relationship between eDNA concentrations and distances from their nests or trails to the soil sampling points
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