Effects of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Tending on the Probing Behavior of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Authors

  • Duan Wu Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642
  • Ling Zeng Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642
  • Aiming Zhou Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan
  • Yijuan Xu Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642

Keywords:

electrical penetration graph, solenopsis mealybug, red imported fire ant, mutualism

Abstract

The involvement of red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren in the probing behavior of the mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley was investigated. The electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique was applied to compare the different probing behavior of ant-tended and untended adult female mealybugs on hibiscus seedlings. The results showed that the duration of the E1, E2, and G waveforms for the mealybugs from both treatments were not significantly different. However, the E1 waveform (which indicates that the stylets have reached phloem and salivation has begun) appeared earlier in ant-tended mealybugs, with a shortened duration of the path waveform (C). The percentage of mealybugs with E2 (phloem) and G (xylem) waveforms were not significantly changed after fire ant tending, whereas apparent increases of E1e and F waveforms were observed. Therefore, the results suggested that S. invicta has significant effects on the probing behavior of P. solenopsis.

 

Se investigó el papel que juega la hormiga de fuego roja importada Solenopsis invicta Buren en el comportamiento alimentario de la cochinilla Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. Se aplicó la técnica de gráfico de la penetración eléctrica (GPE) para comparar los diferentes comportamientos de alimentación de las hembras adultas de la cochinilla sobre plántulas de hibiscus atendidas o no atendidas por las hormigas. Los resultados mostraron que la duración de las E1, E2 y G formas de onda para las cochinillas de ambos tratamientos no fueron significativamente diferentes. Sin embargo, la forma de la onda E1 (lo que indica que los estiletes han alcanzado salivación del floema) apareció anteriormente en las cochinillas atendidas por hormigas, con una menor duración de la ruta de la forma de onda (C). El porcentaje de las cochinillas con formas de onda E2 (floema) y G (xilema) no se cambiaron significativamente después de ser atendidas por la hormiga de fuego, mientras que se observó un aumento aparente en las formas de onda E1e y F. Por lo tanto, los resultados sugieren que S. invicta tiene efectos significativos en el comportamiento de alimentación de la cochinilla P. solenopsis.

 

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Published

2014-02-23

Issue

Vol. 96, No. 4 (December 2013)

Section

Research Papers

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