BFC 10202 - NATURE CONSERVATION
SECTION 2
SESSION 2016/2017
PUAN AZRA MUNIRAH BINTI MAT DAUD
BIODIVERSITY IN UTHM
Hemidactylus frenatus
MUHAMMAD HUD BIN NAZRI
AF160014
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM DAN ALAM SEKITAR
1.0 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES
The ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum, is an ubiquitous indoor and outdoor pest
throughout much of the tropics and subtropics, and an increasingly common indoor pest in
temperate regions.
They are recognised by their dark head and pale or translucent legs
and gaster (abdomen). This colouring makes this tiny ant seem even smaller. The ghost ant is
small, with average lengths ranging between 1.3 to 2.0 millimetres in workers. The antennae
composes of 12 segments that thickens towards the tip. The antennal scapes exceeds
the occipital border. The head and thorax is a dark brown colour while the gaster, legs and
antennae are a milky white colour. Due to its small size and light colour, the ghost ant is
difficult to see. Ghost ants are monomorphic and the thorax is spineless. The gaster is hairless,
and has a back opening that is similar to a slit-like opening. The abdominal pedicel is formed
upon a single segment that is usually unable to be seen due to the gaster, and the species do
not contain a sting.
The queens are similar in appearance to a worker, but the alitrunk (mesosoma) is
enlarged. The queen measures 2.5 millimetres in length, making them the largest member of
the colony. The males head and dorsum is dark in colour, while the gaster is light in that may
contain several dark marks. They are usually 2.0 millimetres in length.
2.0 ECOSYSTEM
Tapinoma melanocephalum has one of the widest distributions known for any ant
species. It has spread across the Old World and New World in both the northern and southern
hemispheres. It is tropical and subtropical; at latitudes greater than 30°, it is largely restricted
to living inside buildings. The only ants with broader known distributions than T.
melanocephalum are the longhorn crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis, and the pharaoh
ant, Monomorium pharaonis.
The native range of T. melanocephalum is generally thought to be the Old World
tropics. However, it has been spread by humans so widely that it is unclear if its native range
is Africa or Asia. Molecular phylogenies need to be constructed to aid in the estimation of its
native range. It is a prominent tramp species that has become widely distributed in the
tropical and subtropical zones of the world, and is often in close association with human
settlement. It is also recorded in a number of temperate locations where it is present either
temporarily or permanently in heated buildings It would be unlikely to survive outside these
buildings in these countries.
Photo taken on a table in a room at KKTSN
3.0 HABITAT & CLASSIFICATION
T. melanocephalum appears extremely flexible in the habitats it occupies, although it
often appears to need some form of disturbance to survive in the presence of behaviourally
dominant species. It commonly nests in temporary or unstable habitats such as plant stems or
clumps of dry grass. It has been sampled nesting at ground level and in trees. In the cooler
temperate regions it is only associated with greenhouses and heated buildings.
T. melanocephalum appears to be a disturbance specialist and in many locations is
absent from undisturbed natural habitat. Where it does occur in natural or semi-natural
disturbed vegetation or remnants, it appears to be a minor component of the community and
is never behaviourally or numerically dominant.
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Metazoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Uniramia
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Tapinoma
Species: Tapinoma melanocephalum
4.0 BENEFITS OR UNFAVOURABLE SIDE OF BIOTIC
No reports were found of T. melanocephalum being considered a significant pest of
agriculture or horticulture. In crops it is considered a secondary pest: rather than being a pest
itself, it can tend or farm mealybug, scale or aphid populations, protecting these pests from
their natural enemies. This protection can result in large herbivore populations. Unlike other
invasive ants, however, the results of such tending behaviour in terms of economic damage
have not been quantified. T. melanocephalumis also known to consume sugary foods in
storage and nectar from plants.
6.0 CONTRIBUTION TO ECOSYSTEM
6.1 ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
T. melanocephalum’s economic influence is primarily through its tending honeydew-
producing homopterans. These homopteran associations have included root scales and fruit
scales on bananas, and a grass root mealybug on the roots of sugarcane. T.
melanocephalum protects them from natural enemies and receives a “reward” of honeydew.
Large pest populations may develop. However, no work has been undertaken to quantify its
economic impact and no reports have been published indicating it to be a significant pest of
horticulture.
Alternatively, T. melanocephalum has a role as a predator of other pest and disease-
spreading species. These ants have been observed attacking diamondback moth larvae in
India, preying on a disease-spreading bug in Venezuela, destroying eggs and larvae of
houseflies in Puerto Rico, and consuming two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae),
aphids, western flower thrips and Ecinothrips americanus in glasshouses in Florida. Again,
however, no work has been undertaken to quantify the positive economic benefits of this
predation of plant pests.
6.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRIBUTION
Previous reviews of pest ants in North America include T. melanocephalum as a pest
only in relation to urban areas. T. melanocephalum appears be confined to disturbed habitat
and in many locations is absent from undisturbed natural habitat such as in Florida or Brazil.
In natural or semi-natural disturbed vegetation or remnants it appears to be a minor
component of the community and is never numerically or behaviourally dominant. For
example, in Tokelau it is present in low densities in forests but is dominated by other ants.
In regard to its influence on other ant species, T. melanocephalum has poor
interspecific competitive abilities and is unlikely to displace other ant species in natural
environments. In São Paulo, Brazil, banana plantations with T. melanocephalum had fewer
other ant species than those without T. melanocephalum. However, it was likely that different
management practices allowed T. melanocephalum to become established in some orchards
rather than T. melanocephalum extirpating other ants. T. melanocephalum is a rapid coloniser
and may benefit from control of other invasive ant species.
At least one positive impact of T. melanocephalum has been observed for biodiversity.
Saarinen and Daniels (2006) found that this ant is one of several species to have been
associated with the state-endangered Miami blue butterfly, Cyclargus thomasi
bethunebakeri (Lepidoptera). This butterfly requires ants to tend the larvae. The presence
of T. melanocephalum may actually benefit Cyclargus in this situation.
6.3 SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION
The social impact of T. melanocephalum may be through its association with food
supplies, or through health effects.
T. melanocephalum has been observed as a significant urban pest capable of infesting
residential kitchens and commercial food outlets in large numbers. It can enter buildings through
screens and small cracks and be a general annoyance. In a study of the ant community infesting
houses of southern Bahia, Brazil, T. melanocephalum was one of the two most common ant
species infesting houses. It was also one of the three common species in south eastern Brazil. In
Honolulu, Hawaii, T. melanocephalum was reported as a common household pest in the 1940s,
but was seldom collected during the 1950s. No reports were found of it damaging wiring or any
other structures within buildings. In Florida, T. melanocephalum is considered one of the most
important house-infesting pests; complaints were primarily due to it being a general nuisance
(80%) or infesting food (15%).
The health impacts of T. melanocephalum vary tremendously. Some people suffer a
slight irritation of the skin following contact with T. melanocephalum. T. melanocephalum may
also have a role in disease transmission. It is abundant in hospitals in South America, and
capable of transporting pathogenic microbes including seven types of bacteria, such
as Enterobacter cloacae andStaphylococcus sp. However, just as in horticulture,T.
melanocephalum may have positive impacts for health. It was found to be the primary predator of
the eggs of Rhodnius prolixus, the vector of Chagas disease in coastal Venezuela. Chagas
disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is a serious public health problem in Latin America.
This predation on R. prolixus populations by T. melanocephalum may account for the absence
of R. prolixus-associated diseases in this area of Venezuela. T. melanocephalum may also feed
on flea eggs and larvae.
The common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) (not to be confused with the Mediterranean
species Hemidactylus turcicus known asMediterranean house gecko), is a native of Southeast
Asia. It is also known as the Pacific house gecko, the Asian house gecko, house lizard, or Moon
Lizard.[2] Most geckos are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They
can be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch
lights, hence their name "house gecko".
The common house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus, not the same as the Mediterranean
species Hemidactylus turcicus known as Mediterranean house gecko, is a native of Southeast Asia. It
is also known as the Pacific house gecko, the Asian house gecko, house lizard, or Moon Lizard.
Most geckos are nocturnal, hiding during the day and foraging for insects at night. They can
be seen climbing walls of houses and other buildings in search of insects attracted to porch lights,
hence their name "house gecko". Hemidactylus frenatus is a gecko which measures 7.5-15 cm long
with males larger than females. Their scalation is uniform, with distinctive enlarged scales along their
backs and arranged in bands on their tail. Its coloration may be gray or light brown to beige with
greenish iridescence and a white underside
and live for about 5 years. These small geckos are non-venomous and harmless to humans.
Medium to large geckos may bite if distressed, however their bite is gentle and will not pierce skin.
Spread around the world by ships, these geckos are now common in the Deep South of
the United States, large parts of tropical and sub-tropical Australia, and many other countries in South
and Central America, Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East.
A tropical gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus thrives in warm, humid areas where it can crawl
around on rotting wood in search of the insects it eats. The animal is very adaptable and may prey on
insects and spiders, displacing other reptiles.
Economy
Ecosystem
In the web of life, geckos are important as all other species of animals
and plants in keeping the ecological balance. If they suddenly become
decimated from the food chain, there could be trouble," warned Executive
Director Rodrigo Fuentes of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.
Geckos play a critical role in population control of small animals like insects. The
Geckos in my room also eat the Tapinoma melanocephalum inside my room Larger species
feed on small birds and rodents. "A healthy population of geckos is needed to
regulate pests and maintain the balance of a fragile ecosystem,” the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) cited.
From a different perspective, geckos, like other amphibians and reptiles, reflect the
relative health of the ecosystem where they live in. They are good bio-indicators of both
biodiversity and environmental change.
During the past years, geckos were not included among the list of commonly traded
species. The fast increasing demand for geckos in Southeast Asia started only in May 2011.
This could have been triggered by internet advertisements that their saliva and organs can
cure various human disorders and illnesses.
Habitat
Hemidactylus frenatus is an ectotherm. This means it cannot
produce its own heat. It can only survive in places with sufficiently
high temperatures. For this reason Hemidactylus frenatus is only
distributed in areas of warm climate, in tropical and sub-tropical
regions. Its physiological processes are largely influenced by ambient
temperature. Despite these restrictions, Hemidactylus frenatus has
become one of the most successful reptiles. It is widely distributed
across the world. Hemidactylus frenatus is found across tropical Asia
and has even formed a stable population in Australia, Africa and the
Americas as an invasive species
Hemidactylus frenatus is originally a tree-living species, they may live
in tropical, subtropical, and temperate environments. It is most abundant in
urban, suburban, and developed locations. It is nocturnal and introduced
populations are almost always found on building walls near artificial lighting.
This nocturnal species is also known to inhabit natural environments, including
in woodlands, patches of forest, on trees in open fields, rocky and forested areas,
coconut palm trunks, under rotting logs, and among dense, low ground-cover
such as Ipomea and Canavalia Canavalia often associated with grasses and a
rocky habitat. This species prefers habitats with open hunting surfaces such as
walls or vertical rocks near concentrated populations of insects. however, it most
commonly found on buildings. This species is found in both villages and large urban areas, it is usually found
close to electric lights at dusk. In addition, this species also occurs in a diverse range of habitats, including rain
forests, savannas, and deserts.
Interaction
Geckos are lizards that make chirping sounds to interact and
communicate with one another. Like many geckos, this species can lose its tail when
alarmed. Its call or chirp rather resembles the sound "gecko, gecko". There are more than
1,500 species of geckos. Most geckos use their tail for many different purposes
such as to store fat, maintain balance and add camouflage to help them to blend
in. Geckos also do not have eyelids and instead lick their eyes to keep them
moisturized. Like many geckos, this species can lose its tail when alarmed.
Reptiles
Hemidactylus Frenatus as Reptile(Class)
Hemidactylus Frenatus are a subgroup within lizards, all of which are
reptiles. Major differences between reptiles and amphibians involve their level
of dependence on water. Amphibians' skin is permeable, which allows them to
get some oxygen from water if submerged but leaves them vulnerable to drying
out if they are out of water (or at least very high humidity) for long. Reptiles
have "watertight" skin that keeps their bodies from dehydrating in the air.
Reptiles eggs have a leathery outer layer, flexible but tough enough to remain
on land without drying up, sometimes buried in sand or organic debris, while
developing. Finally, baby reptiles hatch looking very much like cute little
miniatures of the adults.
Hemidactylus frenatus has exhibited a high penchant for competitive displacement of
similar-sized and urban-adapted geckos. The capacity of this species to supplant
locally local gecko species appears to be most claimed in urban regions. This species is
exceptionally very much adjusted to predation on groupings of insects that assemble along
building walls near manufactured lighting, apparently more so than most endemic gecko
species.
Hemidactylus frenatus likewise has a tendency to be more aggressive and territorial, and
additionally, more tolerant of interspecific cohabitation and competition than
endemic geckos. Such elements permit it to effectively outcompete local species and prohibit
them from concentrated food sources Studies have demonstrated aggressive,
dominant behavior in Hemidactylus frenatus over local geckos. Nactus spp. on the
Mascarene Islands and Lepidodactylus lugubris all through Pacific islands.
Hemidactylus frenatus was much of the time watched stalking, jumping towards and
biting at different geckos. In a few occasions, this animal varieties bit off their tails or ate
them completely. Hemidactylus frenatus was additionally found to forcefully prohibit
endemic geckos from daytime refugia, making these local species more powerless against
predation and adverse climatic conditions. Hemidactylus frenatus are also known to predate
upon other small, usually juvenile lizards, such as Cryptoblepharus boutonii.
There are many records of Hemidactylus frenatus uprooting or causing decline in
local geckos all through its introduced range ostensibly by competitive
displacement. Hemidactylus frenatus displaces endemic and 'Vulnerable (VU)'
lesser night gecko and the endemic night gecko Nactus durrelli in the
Mascarene Islands. It displaces both Nactus spp. from favored environments
increasing their risk of predation and has proven to be a major cause in the
decline of, the once thought extinct in the wild, Nactus coindemirensis.
Hemidactylus frenatus displaces Pacific island native Lepidodactylus
lugubris in many locations and has demonstrated superior predation abilities.
Experiments have demonstrated that Hemidactylus frenatus consumes a
disproportionately higher amount of insect prey than Lepidodactylus lugubris,
thereby leaving it with less potential prey which decreases its body condition,
fecundity, and ability to survive. A similar predation study with Australian
gecko Gehyra dubia also found Hemidactylus frenatus to be a more formidable
forager.
The displacement of Hemidactylus garnotii by Hemidactylus
frenatus throughout the Pacific basin has been attributed to behavioral
interference from aggressive males. Furthermore, Hemidactylus frenatus was
also found to hybridize with Hemidactylus garnotti in laboratory experiment.
Contribution
Geckos are unique because they are nocturnal insect feeders that live on
the sides of buildings. Asian House Geckos are pale pinkish-brown to dark grey with a mottled
pattern and obtain a total length of around 11 cm. They have a series of small spines or tubercules that run
down the lower back and tail which readily distinguish them from any native gecko species. This species
lays two eggs per clutch every 4 to 6 week. The nearly transparent body, along with large
lidless eyes and pads at the end of each toe, give the animal an almost pre-
historic looking appearance.
Their ugly appearance is likely the reason homeowners often insist that
they all must be eradicated from around the home or workplace. The gecko’s
diet of roaches, flies, ants, mosquitoes, spiders and bugs, which make it actually
should be treated as welcomed resident around our homes. It also clears the
Tapinoma melanocephalum in my room.
