Chemical War Between Fire Ants ( Solenopsis invicta ) and Rasberry Crazy Ants ( Nylanderia fulva )

2021 ◽  
pp. 353-368
Author(s):  
Shiyou Li ◽  
Wei Yuan ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Zushang Su ◽  
David L. Kulhavy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Nylanderia Fulva

scholarly journals Comparative Immature Morphology of Brazilian Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:Solenopsis)

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson Fox ◽  
Daniel Russ Solis ◽  
Mônica Lanzoni Rossi ◽  
Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie ◽  
Rodrigo Fernando de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Solenopsis Geminata ◽  
Body Dimensions ◽  
Larval Instars ◽  
Genus Level

Although common in Brazil, the biology of the fire antSolenopsis saevissima(Smith) is still poorly studied. Larval descriptions are useful to genus-level ant systematics and sometimes to species-level taxonomy. This study presents a detailed description of juveniles ofS. saevissimafrom Brazil, which were compared with Brazilian specimens ofSolenopsis invictaBuren,Solenopsis geminata(Fabricius), andSolenopsis altipunctataPitts. Different larval instars were separated by diagnostic morphological traits which were confirmed by observing moults. Reproductive larvae could be easily sorted by their distinctive body dimensions and shape. Contrary to previous reports on this species, the larvae ofS. saevissimaproved to be generally identical to those ofS. invicta, while a few specimens resembled those of other close species, such asSolenopsis megergatesTrager. Mature larvae thus presented considerable intraspecific variation in some characters recently proposed to aid fire ant species separation (morphology of head hairs).

scholarly journals Distinct colony boundaries and larval discrimination in polygyne red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
MacKenzie Kjeldgaard ◽  
Pierre-André Eyer ◽  
Collin McMichael ◽  
Alison Bockoven ◽  
Joanie King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Sucrose Solution ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Invasive Ant ◽  
Nestmate Discrimination ◽  
Social Forms

Evaluating the factors that promote invasive ant abundance is critical to assess their ecological impact and inform their management. Many invasive ant species show reduced nestmate recognition and an absence of boundaries between unrelated nests, which allow populations to achieve greater densities due to reduced intraspecific competition. We examined nestmate discrimination and colony boundaries in introduced populations of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta; hereafter, fire ant). Fire ants occur in two social forms: monogyne (colonies with a single egg-laying queen) and polygyne (colonies with multiple egg-laying queens). In contrast with monogyne nests, polygyne nests are thought to be interconnected due to the reduced antagonism between non-nestmate polygyne workers, perhaps because polygyne workers habituate the colony to an odor unique to Gp-9-carrying adults. However, colony boundaries and nestmate discrimination are poorly documented, particularly for worker-brood interactions. To delimit boundaries between field colonies, we correlated the exchange of a N-glycine tracer dissolved in a sucrose solution with social form. We also evaluated nestmate discrimination between polygyne workers and larvae in the laboratory. Counter to our expectations, polygyne colonies behaved identically to monogyne colonies, suggesting both social forms maintain strict colony boundaries. Polygyne workers also preferentially fed larval nestmates and may have selectively cannibalized non-nestmates. The levels of relatedness among workers in polygyne colonies was higher than those previously reported in North America (mean ±SE: 0.269 ± 0.037). Our study highlights the importance of combining genetic analyses with direct quantification of resource exchange to better understand the factors influencing ant invasions.

scholarly journals Red Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Cover the Insecticide-Treated Surfaces with Particles to Reduce Contact Toxicity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Wen ◽  
Liming Sheng ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Jianlong Zhang ◽  
Ying Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insecticide Resistance ◽  
Surface Treatment ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Contact Toxicity ◽  
Covered Area ◽  
Imported Fire Ants ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ants

Abstract Surface treatment is commonly used in controlling the red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren. In the present study, the behavioral responses of S. invicta workers to surfaces treated with insecticides were investigated. Toxicological tests showed that beta-cypermethrin had the highest contact toxicity (with the lowest LC50 value) among nine tested insecticides, followed by thiamethoxam, fipronil, indoxacarb, chlorfenapyr, rotenone, spinetoram, avermectin, and chlorantraniliprole. In the laboratory, surfaces treated beta-cypermethrin or rotenone significantly reduced the number of foraging ants. In addition, S. invicta workers transported significantly more particles (measured in weight and/or covered area) onto surfaces treated with fipronil (50, 500, and 5000 ppm), rotenone (5000 ppm), or avermectin (5000 ppm) compared with the controls. Similarly, these insecticides significantly triggered the particle-covering behavior of ants in the field. We hypothesized that such behaviors would reduce the contact toxicity of insecticides against S. invicta. When the surfaces treated with fipronil or rotenone (500 or 5000 ppm) were artificiality covered with particles, S. invicta had significantly higher LT50 values compared with insecticide-treated surfaces without particles. This study provides the first evidence that S. invicta workers can perform particle-covering behavior to reduce the toxicity of certain insecticides, which constitutes a unique insecticide-resistance strategy in ants.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document