Airlan San Juan
Research Subjects
Research Interests
Airlan San Juan has a total of 5 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Aaron C. Stoll
Pensacola, USA
1 shared publication - Agnes Lee
Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects (IFAHI) Unit, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, USA
1 shared publication - Douglas B. Booher
Univ of Georgia, Athens, USA
1 shared publication - Marina S. Ascunce
USDA-ARS, Fire Ant Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
1 shared publication - Sanford D. Porter
Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 21 July 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in Neotropical Entomology
- Vol. 55 (1) , 66
First Records and Expanding Distribution of a Small Big-Headed Ant, Pheidole parva, in Florida, USA
Pheidole parva Mayr (1865) is a small ubiquitous ant native to the Indomalayan region where it is considered a pest in healthcare facilities. This tramp ant was first reported outside its native range more than 100 years ago in the Seychelles Islands. Since then, it has been found in other areas of the Old World, where it was likely accidentally introduced via trading ships. In the 2000s, this ant was detected in Japan (2001), the Arabian Peninsula (2009), and recently in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus (2023) and Lebanon (2025). Here, we describe its first occurrence in North America, in the state of Florida where both Nearctic and Neotropical realms meet. Our findings are based on recent Pheidole parva specimens collected throughout the state, curated iNaturalist observations, Antweb data, and DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Among the 26 P. parva specimens analyzed from Florida, we found three different COI haplotypes. Two of them were also found in other introduced areas; however, one of the haplotypes has only been detected in a native population. The three haplotypes were distributed throughout the state with no clear geographical structure, consistent with multiple introductions and broad establishment of this non-native ant in Florida.
- 21 July 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in Neotropical Entomology
- Vol. 55 (1) , 66
Open AccessFirst Records and Expanding Distribution of a Small Big-Headed Ant, Pheidole parva, in Florida, USA
Pheidole parva Mayr (1865) is a small ubiquitous ant native to the Indomalayan region where it is considered a pest in healthcare facilities. This tramp ant was first reported outside its native range more than 100 years ago in the Seychelles Islands. Since then, it has been found in other areas of the Old World, where it was likely accidentally introduced via trading ships. In the 2000s, this ant was detected in Japan (2001), the Arabian Peninsula (2009), and recently in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus (2023) and Lebanon (2025). Here, we describe its first occurrence in North America, in the state of Florida where both Nearctic and Neotropical realms meet. Our findings are based on recent Pheidole parva specimens collected throughout the state, curated iNaturalist observations, Antweb data, and DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Among the 26 P. parva specimens analyzed from Florida, we found three different COI haplotypes. Two of them were also found in other introduced areas; however, one of the haplotypes has only been detected in a native population. The three haplotypes were distributed throughout the state with no clear geographical structure, consistent with multiple introductions and broad establishment of this non-native ant in Florida.