Interference of Plant Essential Oils on the Foraging Behavior of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Authors

  • Jie Wang Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642
  • Xiaolong Qiu 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
  • Yijuan Xu Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642

Keywords:

fire ants, plant essential oil, foraging behavior, interfering, repellency effects

Abstract

Plant essential oils restrained the course of foraging behavior of individual worker ants and also influenced worker recruitment and food transport. Worker search times increased significantly among the plant oil treatments. The longest search time was observed for ants treated with essential oils of Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) and Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G.Don (Pinales: Pinaceae). Different essential oils have significantly different effects on the recruitment of the workers, the amount of food transported, and the time spent foraging.

 

Los aceites esenciales de plantas restringieron la direccion de la conducta individual de forrajeo de individuos de las hormigas obreras y tambien influyeron la seleccion de los trabajadores y el transporte de alimentos. El tiempo de busqueda de los trabajadores incrementaron significativamente entre los tratamientos con aceites vegetales. Se observo que el mayor tiempo de busqueda en las hormigas tratadas con aceites esenciales de Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) y Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G.Don (Pinales: Pinaceae). Diferentes aceites esenciales tienen efectos significativamente diferentes en la selecion de los trabajadores, la cantidad de alimentos transportados, y el tiempo de forrajeo.

 

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Published

2014-06-20

Issue

Vol. 97, No. 2 (June 2014)

Section

Research Papers

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