Invasion of the big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) in southern California: implications of future expansion

Abstract The big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala , is an ecologically disruptive invader of tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. In April 2014 an established infestation of P. megacephala was discovered in a residential neighborhood in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California, and in 2019 a second infestation was found in a residential neighborhood (Talmadge / City Heights) in San Diego, San Diego County, California. Although big-headed ants are regularly detected in commerce in California, the records from Costa Mesa and Talmadge / City Heights represent the first established infestations documented from the state. In 2024 and 2025, four additional infestations were discovered or confirmed in other residential neighborhoods in San Diego. To assess whether or not P. megacephala will expand its range in this region, we delineated infestations in Costa Mesa and Talmadge / City Heights in 2023 and 2024 and compared this species to another widespread invader, the Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile ), with respect to desiccation tolerance and δ15N. The delineated P. megacephala infestations extend over multiple hectares of suburban and urban development, with the Talmadge / City Heights infestation exceeding 100 ha and the Costa Mesa infestation exceeding 10 ha. Between 2023 and 2024 the size of the Talmadge / City Heights infestation increased by 12 ha. Comparisons of the two focal species revealed overlapping δ15N values and estimates of desiccation tolerance. Our findings indicate that established populations of P. megacephala will continue to spread in urban environments in coastal southern California and potentially cause impacts comparable to those resulting from invasion by the Argentine ant.