The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Iceland

In Iceland, 25 ant species were recorded (565 historical records plus 84 new records), with only five species established outdoors and three confined to heated buildings.

• Why it matters: Iceland’s isolation makes colonization difficult, so human transport may be reshaping the island’s ant fauna; the study addresses which species persist versus only appear temporarily.
• What they did: The team compiled published, unpublished, and new records from 1974–2020 and 2019–2023, then assessed each species’ likely origin and current status using indoor/outdoor and habitat context.
• The result: Most species are linked to temporary infestations on imported plant material, while earlier reports of Hypoponera punctatissima appear to reflect misidentifications; Myrmica rubra’s arrival is flagged as especially concerning.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.