DNA analysis of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) in the Southeastern United States

REU fellow: Brooke DePoi, Georgia College and State University

Mentor: Dr. Josh Gibson

Argentine ants are an invasive species located in the Southeastern United States and across the globe. A single global super colony is found in most of their introduced range, with only a few (~10) other colonies identified across the globe. Members of the same colony are identified by their lack of aggression toward one another, as well as through genetic analysis. In the Southeastern US, however, previous work indicates there may be far more colonies. In 2021, 10 nests were collected from a transect across Georgia. Behavioral assays indicated that there are potentially seven colonies represented. The ants were frozen for DNA analysis to be conducted to assess relatedness on these nests relative to the behavioral assays.