Ecological interactions of Pseudacteon parasitoids and Solenopsis ant hosts: environmental correlates of activity and effects on competitive hierarchies

1. Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fire ants are host to Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) parasitoids. The activity of S. geminata (F.) hosts and relative abundance of Pseudacteon phorids, along with five environmental variables, were measured at weekly intervals over an 8‐month period at two sites. 2. Pseudacteon relative abundances often varied greatly from week to week, and were only weakly positively correlated with S. geminata activity. 3. A quadratic function of soil temperature was the single best predictor of ant activity at both sites, explaining 32 and 73% of the variation in ant activity. A linear function of soil moisture was the single best predictor of phorid relative abundance at one site (r² = 0.23) whereas no measured variables were significant predictors of phorid relative abundance at the other site. 4. Interspecific interactions at 600 baits were monitored at a third site to document dominance hierarchies and determine whether the presence of Pseudacteon phorids mediated interspecific interactions in their host, S. geminata. 5. Solenopsis geminata was near the top of dominance hierarchies, which did not diverge greatly from a linear pattern. Three species (S. geminata, S. invicta Buren, and Crematogaster laeviuscula Mayr) won the majority of their interspecific interactions and appear to be co‐dominants at this microhabitat‐rich site. 6. Overall, the presence of phorids had no significant effect on the outcome of interspecific contests involving S. geminata and all other ant species grouped together. Phorids may have contributed to some of the S. geminata losses against other co‐dominant species.     

红火蚁与扶桑绵粉蚧互惠关系对松粉蚧抑虱跳小蜂和美棘蓟马的影响

蚂蚁与蜜源昆虫互作是物种间重要的关系之一,发挥着重要的生态功能。红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren是重要的入侵害虫,对生物多样性的影响已被熟知,但它与蜜源昆虫互作的生态学效应却不被充分理解。本研究评价了红火蚁与扶桑绵粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley这两种入侵害虫之间的互作对寄生性天敌和粉蚧竞争性昆虫的影响。研究发现红火蚁的照看显著减少了寄主植物上粉蚧重要寄生蜂松粉蚧抑虱跳小蜂Aenasius bambawalei Hayat的种群数量,提高了寄主上粉蚧的存活率,有利于寄主上粉蚧种群的扩增和繁殖。同时红火蚁的存在也显著降低扶桑寄主上粉蚧竞争性昆虫美棘蓟马Echinothrips americanus Morgan成虫和幼虫的数量,抑制了美棘蓟马种群的竞争力,使得粉蚧可以占有更多的寄主植物,为粉蚧种群的繁殖提供了更好的条件。可见,红火蚁与扶桑绵粉蚧的互惠关系的生态效应可能是通过它们与多物种互作综合形成的结果。     

Parasitoid–host relationships when host size varies: the case of Pseudacteon flies and Solenopsis fire ants

Abstract. 1. Phorid flies in the genus Pseudacteon are parasitoids of ants. Variation in host size preferences of four South American and two North American Pseudacteon species on monogyne and polygyne forms of their host Solenopsis species [ S. invicta Buren and S. geminata (F.), respectively] was documented.
2. Monogyne Solenopsis workers were, on average, significantly larger than polygyne workers, and the average size monogyne worker attacked was significantly larger than the average size polygyne worker attacked in four of the six Pseudacteon species.
3. Three South American Pseudacteon species attacked larger than average size workers, whereas one attacked smaller than average size workers, in both monogyne and polygyne forms. Both North American Pseudacteon species attacked larger than average size polygyne workers and smaller than average size monogyne workers.
4. Three Pseudacteon species were reared from eggs to adults in infected ants in the laboratory. The size of the emergent phorid fly was related positively to the size of the host worker ant, with females emerging from larger hosts. Similar patterns were documented for both monogyne and polygyne forms.
5. The mean size of worker host from which phorids emerged did not differ significantly between the monogyne and polygyne forms in the subsample of phorids reared to adults.
6. The observed patterns elucidate factors that may cause variation in Pseudacteon sex ratios, and have implications for biological control efforts of pest Solenopsis species.     

红火蚁与热带火蚁间的干扰竞争

【目的】为了探讨入侵火蚁在我国成功定殖及其之间的竞争机制。【方法】运用行为学方法研究红火蚁Solenopsis invicta(Buren)和热带火蚁Solenopsis geminata(Fabricius)在个体水平和群体水平上的攻击性、攻击手段及合作能力。【结果】一对一攻击试验中,红火蚁和热带火蚁之间攻击级别多集中在3级,两种入侵蚂蚁间以相互威胁为主;红火蚁大型工蚁与热带火蚁兵、工蚁间最为好斗,其攻击级别达到4级的比例最高,分别为33.04%、37.92%。热带火蚁兵蚁与各型红火蚁间攻击强度差异不显著;热带火蚁工蚁与红火蚁小型工蚁之间的攻击性最强,其攻击性(3.49)显著高于热带火蚁工蚁与红火蚁大、中型工蚁的攻击性(3.32和2.97)。在攻击手段上,3级打斗时各型红火蚁更倾向以物理攻击主动威胁热带火蚁,而热带火蚁兵、工蚁会采取多种方式主动攻击红火蚁,双方皆以躲避应对为主;4级打斗时两种火蚁主要以混合攻击为主动或应对手段。群体攻击试验显示,红火蚁群体间攻击强度和合作性会随着群体数量的增加而显著增加,热带火蚁合作性较差,其群体对抗红火蚁的优势仅仅是由于个体数量的增加。【结论】红火蚁比热带火蚁具有更强的竞争优势。研究结果为入侵蚂蚁间不对称竞争机制和长期群落替代的内在原因提供理论基础。     

Biological control reduces herbivore’s host range

The enemy release hypothesis predicts that alien populations are more vigorous and grow faster in introduced areas than within their natural range due to lack of natural enemies. An extension of this theory would be that the lack of natural enemies on an herbivore species will indirectly increase the number of host plant species that it can infest. The eucalyptus gall wasp Ophelimus maskelli is a recent introduction to the Mediterranean basin. Its arrival was followed after about two years by its parasitoid, Closterocerus chamaeleon. We evaluated the range of hosts used by the gall wasp by surveying 50 Eucalyptus species, 37 Eucalyptus hybrids and 18 E. globulus half-sibling families, before and after the establishment of the parasitoid. We found a consistent reduction in the observed host range of the gall wasp after the establishment of the parasitoid with a reduction of 83% on Eucalyptus species, 84% on hybrids, and 94% on E. globulus half-siblings. Host range narrowed down from 18 to three closely-related host species, all in the section Exsertaria, series Exsertae, E. camaldulensis, E. tereticornis and E. rudis, which are probably the standard hosts of O. maskelli. In the remaining affected species the intensity of attack decreased significantly in all studied regions. These findings show that, besides the direct gains from classical biological control, there may be indirect benefits through a natural-enemy-induced reduction in the range of host plants used by herbivorous insect pests.     

Evaluating biological control of fire ants using phorid flies: effects on competitive interactions

The effects of the parasitic phorid fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier, on the competitive interactions between the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, and a native North American ant, Forelius pruinosus (Roger), were investigated in the laboratory. P. tricuspis is a highly host-specific endoparasitoid of S. invicta workers that is currently being reared and released as a biological control agent of S. invicta in the US. We tested the effect of P. tricuspis on the colony growth rate of S. invicta when S. invicta was forced to compete with F. pruinosus for a protein resource (freeze-killed crickets) in laboratory competition arenas. In addition to colony growth rate, we quantified the effect of the phorid flies on the foraging rate of S. invicta. Though S. invicta significantly reduced its foraging rate in the presence of the phorid flies, we did not detect an effect of the flies on colony growth rate. Possible explanations for these results include behavioral compensation by S. invicta for the presence of the flies. We present these laboratory results in light of a literature search indicating that laboratory tests of biological control agent efficacy are good predictors of field efficacy. We conclude that P. tricuspis alone is unlikely to suppress S. invicta populations in the field by reducing their competitive ability.     

Differential impact of egg predation by Zetzellia mali (Acari: Stigmaeidae) on Metaseiulus occidentalis and Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

The differential impact of Zetzellia mali on the phytoseiids Metaseiulus occidentalis and Typhlodromus pyri was studied in the laboratory and by analysis of population from orchard plots that contained either phytoseiid, similar numbers of prey mites and high or low densities of Z. mali. Five hypotheses were evaluated to explain why Z. mali had more impact on M. occidentalis in the field than on T. pyri. Given equal opportunity, Z. mali adult females did not consume more M. occidentalis eggs than T. pyri eggs nor did adult females of either phytoseiid inflict greater mortality on Z. mali eggs or larvae through attack or consumption. There was no difference in the within-tree association of Z. mali adult females with eggs of either phytoseiid species nor were there differences in the way prey mites (all life stages) were spatially partitioned between adult female Z. mali as compared with adults and deutonymphs (combined) of either phytoseiid. The foraging area of adult female Z. mali and the oviposition locations of the two phytoseiids from both field and laboratory data were compared using spatial statistics. Metaseiulus occidentalis laid significantly more eggs in the primary foraging area of adult female Z. mali than T. pyri. This was the only factor identified which may explain the greater impact of Z. mali on M. occidentalis. The impact of these interspecific effects on the persistence of predatory mite guilds and biological control are discussed.     

种间竞争在实蝇入侵中的作用

实蝇是一类危害热带、亚热带水果蔬菜的重要害虫.调查表明,实蝇由入侵引起的种间竞争,一个突出现象就足实蝇种间的入侵具有显著的等级特征,种间竞争性替代具有强烈的方向性,其竞争作用可导致入侵实蝇种群的火绝或者数量的巨大改变.目前有关实蝇种问竞争的等级性模式既未得到进一步研究验证,也未明确其中隐含的作用机制.深入研究实蝇种间竞争的作用机制为检疫性实蝇的风险评估和管理提供参考,同时也为认识农林害虫群落的演替规律提供理论依据.     

呋虫胺对红火蚁工蚁的毒杀活性及行为影响

本文研究呋虫胺对红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren中型工蚁的毒杀活性及爬杆能力、抓附能力、行走能力、攻击能力等行为影响.以水试管喂毒法对红火蚁进行试验.结果 表明,1 mg/L和5 mg/L呋虫胺处理13h后,红火蚁中型工蚁校正死亡率分别为55.56％、97.78％,0 mg/L、1 mg/L和5 ...     

Fire ant predation on native and introduced subterranean termites in the laboratory: effect of high soldier number in Coptotermes formosanus

Abstract.

• 1 Native Reticulitermes spp. Holmgren and the introduced Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) were exposed to predation in the laboratory by Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a known predator of Reticulitermes.
• 2 In one experiment, both taxa contained the 2.4% soldiers commonly found in Reticulitermes. In a second experiment, Reticulitermes contained 2.4% and C.formosanus a more normal 18.3% soldiers.
• 3 When soldier proportions were equal, C.formosanus soldiers suffered less of a decrease in survivorship due to predation compared with Reticulitermes soldiers. Little difference was found between taxa in the effect of predation on termite workers or in the effect of termites on predator survivorship.
• 4 When soldier proportions were unequal, both C.formosanus castes suffered less from predation than those of Reticulitermes. Again, little difference was found in the effect of termites on ants.
• 5 C.formosanus showed less movement into new containers when soldier number was abnormally low, compared with both taxa with normal caste proportions.

     

高效氯氟氰菊酯微囊悬浮剂与二阶段法对红火蚁的田间防治效果评价

研究了高效氯氟氰菊酯微囊悬浮剂与二阶段法对红火蚁的田间防治效果。结果表明,0.25 g/L高效氯氟氰菊酯微囊悬浮剂施药后击倒红火蚁迅速,14 d后活动蚁巢减退率、工蚁减退率、蚁巢级别降低率、综合防治效果均达到100%。使用0.045%茚虫威饵剂搭配0.25 g/L高效氯氟氰菊酯微囊悬浮剂的二阶段法,5 d后红火蚁的活动蚁巢和工蚁数量均显著下降,14 d后活动蚁巢减退率、工蚁减退率、蚁巢级别降低率、综合防治效果均达到100%。结果表明,0.25 g/L高效氯氟氰菊酯微囊悬浮剂对红火蚁具有高效的控制作用,在实际使用时可根据防治面积的大小选择单独灌巢还是配合饵剂的二阶段法。     

化学防治对绿化带中红火蚁及本地蚂蚁的影响

研究了饵剂、粉剂和灌巢3种不同施药方法对红火蚁的防治效果及对绿化带本地蚂蚁的影响.结果表明:从活动蚁巢和工蚁减退率两项指标来看,粉剂防治绿化带中红火蚁效果快速稳定,可以推广使用;饵剂防治作用较缓慢,处理35d后达到最好的防治效果;而灌巢虽然能在短期内有效地减少活动蚁巢数量,但对工蚁的防效较差,总体上不如粉剂和饵剂.此外,饵剂和粉剂都能显著降低绿化带本地蚂蚁的种类和数量,灌巢则对本地蚂蚁的影响较小.通过分析施药前后各处理区的蚂蚁类群多样性指数、均匀度指数和优势度指数的变化,可以看出各处理区的蚂蚁类群多样性指数,均匀度指数和优势度指数与CK相比,都呈下降趋势,说明化学防治能有效压制红火蚁的数量,但同时也严重影响着本地蚂蚁.     

Changes in reproductive roles are associated with changes in gene expression in fire ant queens

In species with social hierarchies, the death of dominant individuals typically upheaves the social hierarchy and provides an opportunity for subordinate individuals to become reproductives. Such a phenomenon occurs in the monogyne form of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, where colonies typically contain a single wingless reproductive queen, thousands of workers and hundreds of winged nonreproductive virgin queens. Upon the death of the mother queen, many virgin queens shed their wings and initiate reproductive development instead of departing on a mating flight. Workers progressively execute almost all of them over the following weeks. To identify the molecular changes that occur in virgin queens as they perceive the loss of their mother queen and begin to compete for reproductive dominance, we collected virgin queens before the loss of their mother queen, 6 h after orphaning and 24 h after orphaning. Their RNA was extracted and hybridized against microarrays to examine the expression levels of approximately 10 000 genes. We identified 297 genes that were consistently differentially expressed after orphaning. These include genes that are putatively involved in the signalling and onset of reproductive development, as well as genes underlying major physiological changes in the young queens.     

灭蚁威对不同生境下红火蚁的药效评价

在红火蚁发生区域选农田、山坡地、绿化带、草坪等4个不同生境地块,采用灭蚁威毒饵进行防治试验,并对其药效进行调查。结果显示,药后10 d,灭蚁威对红火蚁蚁巢的防效较差,且表现出不同生境而有所差异;但在药后35 d时,其对蚁巢和工蚁的校正防效均在95%以上,表现出良好的防治效果。本试验结果表明,灭蚁威的药效需一个月后才能充分发挥;在红火蚁发生区,对不同的生境均可采用灭蚁威饵剂进行防治。