Red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are unsuitable prey for a native antlion (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in Florida

Authors

  • David G. Brothers Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
  • James K. Wetterer Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA

Keywords:

biological invasion, exotic species, invasive species, Myrmeleon, Solenopsis

Abstract

Summary

We examined the suitability of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as prey for a native antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis Walker (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae), in south Florida. We found that average growth rate was significantly lower and mortality was significantly higher for M. crudelis larvae fed S. invicta workers than for M. crudelis larvae fed Dorymyrmex bureni (Trager) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers. Thus, S. invicta appears to be unsuitable prey for M. crudelis and may have a negative impact on M. crudelis and other ant predators in areas where it invades.

 

Sumario

Se examinó la idoneidad de Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) como presa para el leon de hormigas nativo, Myrmeleon crudelis Walker (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) en el sur de la Florida. Se encontró que el promedio de la tasa de crecimiento fue significativamente más baja y la mortalidad fue significativamente mayor para larvas de M. crudelis alimentadas de trabajadores de S. invicta que para las alimentadas de trabajadores de Dorymyrmex bureni (Trager) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entonces, parece que S. invicta no es una presa adecuada para M. crudelis y puede tener un impacto negativo sobre M. crudelis y otros depredadores de hormigas en las zonas donde la especie invada.

 

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Published

2016-12-31

Issue

Vol. 99, No. 4 (December 2016)

Section

Scientific Notes

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