Effects of an invasive ant on land snails in the Ogasawara Islands

Invasive ant species Pheidole megacephala significantly impacts endemic achatinellid snails, contributing to their decline in the Ogasawara Islands. Research shows that where the ant is present, 49% of surveyed sites lack these snails, and laboratory experiments confirm predation behavior. Despite its ecological impact, P. megacephala remains unlisted as an invasive species, highlighting gaps in official conservation frameworks. The study compared snail distribution and density between 2005 and 2015, revealing a stark contrast in areas affected by the ant's presence.

Uchida, S., Mori, H., Kojima, T., Hayama, K., Sakairi, Y., & Chiba, S. (2016). Effects of an invasive ant on land snails in the Ogasawara Islands. Conservation Biology, 30(6), 1330–1337. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12724