This report describes, for the first time, harmful effects of invasive Yellow Crazy Ants Anoplolepis gracilipes on wild birds in Japan. We observed fledglings of Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus and Daito White-eye Zosterops japonicus daitoensis caused fatal injuries by ants on the ground on Minami-daito Island. We compared reproductive behaviors of Daito Scops Owl Otus elegans interpositus in a cavity with ants and cavities without ants and found that while reproductive success did not differ between them, parental females in a cavity with ants more frequently interchanged their nest site than those in cavities without ants.
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1 June 2009
Harmful Effects of Invasive Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes on Three Land Bird Species of Minami-Daito Island
Shin Matsui,
Tomonori Kikuchi,
Kana Akatani,
Sayaka Horie,
Masaoki Takagi
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Cavity nesting birds
Fledglings unskilled in flying
Invasive ant
Minami-daito Island
Yellow Crazy Ant