Hemipterans in Florida Associated with Nylanderia fulva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an Invasive Crazy Ant
Keywords:
Paratrechina pubens, tawny crazy ant, Caribbean crazy ant, Rasberry crazy ant, Hemiptera, invasive ants, carton shelterAbstract
Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) (Formicidae) is an invasive pest ant that has been reported in Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Workers tend various honeydew producing hemipterans in Florida landscapes and natural areas. We sought to understand the seasonal foraging activities of N. fulva and its relationship with honeydew producing hemipterans. Twenty-two hemipteran species were collected from 15 different plant hosts sampled in Florida from Jul 2010 to Jul 2012. The relative density of hemipterans on 4 plant species [live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.; Fagales: Fagaceae), holly (Ilex cornuta Lindl.; Aquifoliales: Aquifoliaceae), magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.; Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae), and sugarberry (Celtis laevigata Willd.; Urticales: Ulmaceae)] was compared to the relative density of N. fulva at the base or stem of the selected plants. The number of N. fulva and hemipterans on each plant species was positively correlated from spring through fall. Both N. fulva and hemipteran populations increased from May to Sep and decreased from Oct to Apr. In addition, Cinara juniperivora (Wilson) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on southern red cedar and Toumeyella liriodendri (Gmelin) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on magnolia were covered with carton shelters presumably constructed by N. fulva, suggesting that this ant potentially protects certain hemipterans species.
Se ha reportado la presencia de Nylanderia fulva (Mayr), una hormiga plaga invasora en la Florida, Texas, Louisiana y Mississippi. Los trabajadores atienden varios hemípteros que producen rocio de miel en los campos y áreas naturales de la Florida. Tratamos a comprender las actividades estacionales de alimentación de N. fulva y su relación con los hemípteros que producen rocio de miel. Veinte y dos especies de hemípteros fueron recolectadas sobre 15 plantas hospederas diferentes muestreadas en Florida desde el julio de 2010 hasta el julio de 2012. Se comparó la densidad relativa de los hemípteros sobre 4 especies de plantas [roble vivo (Quercus virginiana Mill: Fagales: Fagaceae), el acebo (Ilex cornuta Lindl; Aquifoliales:. Aquifoliaceae), magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.; Magoliales: Magnoliaceae), y el almez de Mississippi (Celtis laevigata Willd; Urticales:. Ulmaceae)] con la densidad relativa de N. fulva en la base o tallo de las plantas seleccionadas. Se correlacionó positivamente el número de N. fulva y hemípteros en cada especie de planta desde la primavera hasta el otoño. La poblacion de N. fulva y los hemípteros incrementó desde mayo hasta septiembre y decrimentó de octubre a abril. Además, los Cinara juniperivora (Wilson) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) sobre el cedro rojo del sur y los Toumeyella liriodendri (Gmelin) (Homoptera: Coccidae) sobre la magnolia fueron cubiertos con refugios de cartón supuestamente construidos por N. fulva, lo que sugiere que esta hormiga potencialmente protege ciertas especies de hemípteros. Este es el primer informe de la construcción de refugios por N. fulva.
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