Little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, on Guam

Little fire ant (LFA), Wasmannia auropunctata, was detected on Guam in November 2011. Previous infestations in the Pacific Basin include the Hawaiian Islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, New Caledonia, and Northern Queensland, Australia. All of these areas have air and sea connections to Microneisa. The devastating effects of LFA on agriculture and forest ecosystems observed in LFA infested areas are likely to occur on Guam, and any other Micronesian island infested by LFA. LFA surveys on Guam suggest that it is presently established on at least eight sites on the island, including a green waste hardfill site of about 2 ha, and several small farms and residential areas. Impacts on invertebrate biodiversity have been noted in infested areas on Guam. The ants' spread to and throughout Guam is most likely due to human transport of infested plant material. Surveillance surveys suggest that it has yet to spread to the neighboring islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), or elsewhere in Micronesia.