The seasonal reproductive status of tawny crazy ant queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Florida
Abstract
The tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: For[1]micidae), is an invasive ant that is spreading in the southern USA. The control of invasive ants requires an understanding of their biology to implement measures of suppression such as strategically applying ant baits to eliminate queens. Nylanderia fulva queens were collected monthly in north central Florida and dissected to determine their seasonal reproductive status. The percentages of queens with > 50 eggs increased from 26% in winter to a peak of 68% in summer, while queens with < 10 eggs was below 20% per season. Thus, eggs were present in queens throughout the yr. Likewise, mated queens were present in each season, with 81 to 92% of the queens inseminated. While queens were fecund yr-round, the lack of brood production in winter may indicate a curtailment of colony foraging to feed queens and larvae which could impede the strategy of baiting queens consolidated in winter nest sites.
Sumario
La hormiga loca de color marrón amarillento, Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), es una hormiga invasora que se está extendiendo por el sur de los Estados Unidos. El control de las hormigas invasoras requiere una comprensión de su biología para implementar medidas de supresión, como la aplicación estratégica de cebos para eliminar a sus reinas. Se recolectaron las reinas de Nylanderia fulva mensualmente en el centro norte de Florida y se disecaron para determinar su estado reproductivo estacional. El porcentaje de reinas con > 50 huevos aumentaron del 26% en invierno a un máximo del 68% en verano, mientras que las reinas con < 10 huevos estuvieron por debajo del 20% por temporada. Por lo tanto, los huevos estuvieron presentes en las reinas durante todo el año. Asimismo, las reinas apareadas estuvieron presentes en cada temporada, con un 81 a 92% reinas inseminadas. Mientras que las reinas fueron fecundas durante todo el año, la falta de producción de crías en invierno puede indicar una reducción de la búsqueda de alimento en las colonias para alimentar a las reinas y larvas, lo que podría impedir la estrategia de cebo para las reinas consolidadas en los sitios de anidación de invierno.
Key Words: Nylanderia fulva; oviposition; reproduction; ovary; spermatheca; reproductive phenology
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