Cruise tourist finds new species of ant in Cayman
New ant species found in the Cayman Islands by James Wetterer
(CNS): When James Wetterer docked in the Cayman Islands during his Caribbean cruise holiday in April he set off to see the sights, but he did not head to Seven Mile Beach or Stingray City. Instead, the professor at Florida’s Atlantic University headed for the nearest patch of red mangroves to continue his research, where he stumbled upon a unique species of ant that has never been identified before.
Wetterer tells the story of his discovery in this month’s edition of Flicker, the bi-monthly magazine produced by the Terrestrial Research Unit of the Department of Environment (DoE).
Wetterer had been working on the insects living in the dead hollow twigs in mangrove areas of Florida and had discovered that rare ant species were often found in red mangroves because of their unique habitat, often completely isolated by water from dry land. During his Cayman visit he collected a few specimens from the mangroves he managed to find around the Camana Bay area, and when he cut open the twigs he found an ant he had never seen before.
Similar to two Tapinoma species found in the Caribbean, its coloration was different enough for Wetterer to think it could be an entirely new species. So he sent his Cayman sample to Roberto Guerrero at the Universidad del Magdalena in Colombia, an expert of the genus Tapinoma, who confirmed the as yet undescribed species.
This is the only ant species known solely from the Cayman Islands and will soon be described after Guerrero completes the genetic analyses. Wetterer said he found specimens of the new ant at two locations and collected many worker ants and eleven males, but no queens.
“So I’ve booked another cruise. My family and I am coming back to Grand Cayman in December with the goal of finding some Tapinoma queens,” the professor said.
But Wetterer’s discovery also offers a clear warning.
He found the samples of dead mangroves at Camana Bay on land being cleared for yet another development and he urged Cayman to preserve the mangroves. His find clearly demonstrates that many species depend on mangroves, and as we continue to pull them up we don’t even know the variety and importance of the creatures we may be destroying.
The current issue of Flicker (#28) includes research into the increase of green iguanas in the Sister Islands and the appearance of a rare Black Cuban Hawk at Barkers.
Email Jane.Haakonsson@gov.ky for a copy of Flicker #28
Access old issues of Flicker on the DoE website
Category: Land Habitat, Science & Nature
Close the Turtle Farm. Grand opening of the new: Cayman Ant Farm!
Please call it the Caymant!!… you can use that. But I definitely want credit
You seem quite Adamant.
Don’t you need a proper permit to collect and export samples like this?
We destroy our environment for the almighty dollar this isn’t anything new. We have over developed SMB and killed its beauty now we heading east to destroy the islands central wetlands all in the name of development and employment for caymanians. What a joke!
I assume he will be arrested upon his return. Taking things from private land without permission is theft. Also curious as to what permits were in place for the shipment of specimens to Columbia?
Guess what, until someone is held accountable for the importation of the nasty green iguanas you can leave the Ant-Man alone.
Did he have a work permit?
The ant didn’t have a permit.
Que up the complaints about expats stealing jobs….
Smh, thanks Dart.
If we need to know more should we Ask Anty?
And if the developers and government have their way there will be no red mangroves left. This article just shows you how important it is to leave mother nature alone….
Playing the devil’s advocate here in what seems to be a thrilling new discovery….did the “tourist” in question have the relevant permit and clearance to remove and export this cayman wildlife? it is just an ant but its the principle.
I like the environmental spin at the end. You guys are good at spinning things.
…and now that the Environmental Protection Fund has been all but spent, I wonder how many other undiscovered and unprotected species we have, that we will never know about.
For sure this new insect arrived here many years ago……….. having been washed up on our shores on a piece of waterlogged driftwood.
Dig it up and pave it… The DART way!
At least his roads are done with quality and you don’t slide off them when they are wet! Unlike the CIG that are all crooks.