The red imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta,modifies predation at the soil surface and in cotton foliage

Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, are generalist predators that can have major impacts on foliar arthropod communities in agricultural systems; however, their effects as predators at the soil surface have not been adequately characterized. We examined the contribution of fire ants to predation at the soil surface and in cotton foliage at two sites and over the course of two field seasons in Georgia, using egg masses of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua. To assess interactions between fire ants and other arthropod species, we also measured the densities of edaphic predators and honeydew‐producing hemipterans at both sites. The sites occurred in different growing regions (Piedmont and Coastal Plain), and allowed us to characterize the importance of fire ants as predators under different climatic and soil conditions. Fire ant suppression decreased egg predation at both field sites, and predation by fire ants at the soil surface was equal to if not greater than that in cotton foliage. However, the impact of fire ants on predation varied between sites, likely due to differences in climate and the composition and activity of the extant arthropod communities. Our study also indicates that fire ant suppression is associated with decreases in the density of honeydew‐producing insects, and increasing abundance of whiteflies on the plants coincided with a decrease in egg predation at the soil surface. This finding suggests the mutualism between ants and whiteflies may lead to a shift in predation intensity from edaphic towards plant‐based food webs.     

严防危险性害虫红火蚁入侵

原产南美洲的红火蚁SolenopsisinvictaBuren,先后入侵美国和澳洲,最近又入侵中国台湾,对人类健康和环境安全构成重大威胁。该文介绍了红火蚁的形态特征、与近源种的形态区别、生物学特性、入侵特性、危害以及预防、控制等方面的知识,最后提出我国大陆需要高度警惕,严防红火蚁入侵。     

Successful establishment of the invasive fire ant Solenopsis invicta in Taiwan: insights into interactions of alternate social forms

Aim Understanding the factors underlying the successful establishment of invasive ant species is critical for developing quarantine strategies to prevent additional invasions as well as for determining how such species overcome the selective pressures in invaded areas. Although several studies have revealed differences in the social organization and population genetics of invasive ants in their native and introduced ranges, few studies have considered the potential interactions between alternate social forms within newly‐invaded areas simply because many invasive ants are characterized as polygyne or unicolonial. Location Taoyuan and Chiayi County, Taiwan. Methods Both social forms (polygyne and monogyne) of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, occur in two separately invaded areas in Taiwan (Taoyuan and Chiayi). We employed intensive sampling methods and diagnostic polymerase chain reaction assays to determine the distribution of these two social forms in both infested areas in Taiwan. Results The distribution of social forms differs dramatically between the two infested areas, consistent with different invasion histories regarding the original make‐up of individuals comprising the initial founder group. The Taoyuan population likely was colonized initially by ants of both social forms, with the subsequent spread characterized by continuous outward movement of the two forms, particularly the monogyne form. In contrast, the initial founders of the Chiayi population likely were of the polygyne social form only, suggesting the monogyne social form in this population appeared only recently and likely arose directly from polygyne queens converting to the alternate social form. Main conclusions Our results provide detailed insights into the invasion history of S. invicta in Taiwan and suggest that the distinct reproductive biology of the two social forms may have shaped the current distribution of S. invicta in these infested areas and that the dynamics of two forms may affect the long‐term persistence and potential for spread of this pest ant species.     

Characteristics of 11 polymorphic microsatellite markers in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren

We have characterized 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the invasive ant Solenopsis invicta. Primer pairs were evaluated on fire ants collected from monogyne mounds in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The observed and effective number of alleles ranged from two to six and from 1.31 to 2.64, respectively. The observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.1613 to 0.7826 and from 0.1491 to 0.6242, respectively. The polymorphism information content of the microsatellites ranged from 0.1482 to 0.6208. Probability tests indicated significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at three loci. Pairwise tests did not detect linkage disequilibrium between any pair of loci.     

Integrated pest management concepts for red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Management of imported fire ant species has evolved since their accidental introduction into the United States and currently uses integrated pest management concepts to design, implement, and evaluate suppression programs. Although eradication is the management goal in certain isolated infestation sites, localized goals vary dramatically in larger infestations where reinvasion of treated areas is likely. These goals are influenced by regulatory policies, medical liabilities, ecological impact, and/or economic considerations. Tactics employed in fire ant management programs presented here include cultural and biological control options along with judicious use of site‐specific insecticide products. In addition, program design considerations that include management goal(s), action level(s), ant form (monogyne or polygyne), presence of nontarget ant species, size of treatment area, seasonality, implementation cost, and environmental impact are also presented. Optimally, elegant IPM programs are target specific, threshold driven, environmentally friendly and cost‐effective.     

红火蚁入侵对广东多种生境中蚂蚁类群的影响

采用陷阱法和诱饵诱集法研究了深圳红火蚁发生区和未发生区蚂蚁的类群多样性和相似性.结果表明:草坪和荒草地红火蚁发生区域的蚂蚁物种数明显减少,且草坪中蚂蚁种类减少的程度(6种)大于荒草地 (3种).红火蚁入侵后荔枝园、荒草地和草坪的蚂蚁优势种发生了明显改变,红火蚁替代了原来的优势蚂蚁种类,在数量上占据了主导地位,在荒草地和草坪这种优势种的改变更为明显.对蚂蚁类群指数的分析表明:红火蚁入侵荒草地和草坪后蚂蚁类群的多样性、均匀度降低,优势度明显增大;而荔枝园中蚂蚁类群多样性指数、均匀度指数均增大,优势度指数降低.荔枝园、荒草地和草坪的红火蚁发生区和未发生区蚂蚁类群相似性系数不同,分别为0.6316、0.5882和0.2941.     

Trophallaxis by temporal subcastes in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, in response to honey

ABSTRACT. Trophallactic behaviour of temporal subcastes in Solenopsis invicta Buren colonies was studied in two separate experiments. First, radiolabeled honey was presented to small colonies containing larvae, queens and marked workers; radioactivity in the head, thorax and abdomen of each ant was measured after 0.25, 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. The quantity of honey per subcaste was dependent on the total amount of honey collected. As more honey entered the colony, the quantity in foragers, queens and reserves increased more rapidly than that in nurses or larvae. The internal distribution of radioactivity in the head, thorax or abdomen indicated that differences between subcaste members in either the rate of food exchange or digestion existed. In a second experiment behavioural observations were made on marked workers in colonies before and after the presentation of honey. Reserves spent significantly more time engaged in trophallaxis than either foragers or nurses, both as active donors and active receivers. Based on number of encounters, nurses were more likely to receive honey while reserves and foragers were more likely to donate honey. The duration of encounters involving nurses tended to be shorter than those involving reserves or foragers.     

红火蚁与两种本地蚂蚁间的干扰竞争

为了探讨重大入侵生物红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren与本地蚂蚁的竞争机制以及红火蚁成功入侵的机理, 本研究以红火蚁和2种本地蚂蚁黑头酸臭蚁Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius)及亮红大头蚁Pheidole fervida Smith为材料, 室内测定了红火蚁分别与黑头酸臭蚁、亮红大头蚁之间在个体水平和种群水平上的攻击性和攻击强度。一对一攻击试验结果表明：红火蚁和黑头酸臭蚁之间攻击级别多集中在Ⅲ级, 即竞争优势明显的红火蚁对黑头酸臭蚁缺乏激烈的攻击, 只是在相互攻击时多摆出威胁姿势; 红火蚁与亮红大头蚁之间攻击性较强, 尤其是红火蚁中型和小型工蚁与亮红大头蚁兵蚁之间的攻击性（3.35和3.30）显著强于红火蚁大型工蚁与亮红大头蚁兵蚁的攻击性（2.70）。群体攻击试验结果表明：与黑头酸臭蚁群体攻击的红火蚁各处理组合中, 无死亡红火蚁出现, 而黑头酸臭蚁死亡率为31.80%; 而与亮红大头蚁群体攻击中, 红火蚁死亡率为0.20%~12.00%, 而亮红大头蚁平均死亡率为49.91%。可见, 红火蚁的群体攻击能力强于黑头酸臭蚁和亮红大头蚁, 其中红火蚁与亮红大头蚁间的相互攻击程度激烈, 死亡率较高, 而与黑头酸臭蚁间的攻击程度较弱, 可能由于黑头酸臭蚁化学防御对本身起到一定的保护作用, 这为进一步加强红火蚁发生区本地蚂蚁优势种--黑头酸臭蚁的保护利用提供理论基础。     

红火蚁及其重要近似种的鉴别

介绍了红火蚁及其重要近似种的分类特征和分布,以及火蚁属中国已知种类,还提供了上述种类的鉴别检索表。     

不同浓度茚虫威对红火蚁的防治效果

为探索适合防治红火蚁的茚虫威浓度,利用丙酮溶解茚虫威原药,使用雾化手段与载体和配方其他试剂充分混合,干燥后保存,进行野外试验测定其防治红火蚁的药效。结果表明,研制的0.025%茚虫威饵剂综合防治效果达85.30%,0.05%茚虫威饵剂达100%,0.1%茚虫威饵剂达100%。3个浓度的茚虫威饵剂拥有良好的防治红火蚁药效,0.05%浓度最适合研制红火蚁饵剂。     

广东口岸进境红火蚁截获动态分析

本文对广东口岸自2005年至2007年截获的红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren进行了分析,表明广东口岸近年来红火蚁截获批次逐年增加,其传带货物来源的国家和地区多、种类复杂,检疫查验形势严峻。提出了以加强来自疫区高风险货物的检疫质量、扩大口岸进境货物的检疫范围、建立口岸监测体系以及提高检疫除害处理的检疫监管措施。     

Behaviour of worker subcastes in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, in response to proteinaceous food

ABSTRACT. The effects of division of labour on response behaviour to food in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, were examined to determine if caste members differ in amount of food taken, in rate of food transfer, or in internal distribution of food; and to see if food availability, time, or temporal subcaste pairing affect feeding behaviour. To measure differences in behaviour we fed radioiodinated albumin mixed with egg yolk to colonies containing larvae, queens, and (a) foragers and nurses, or (b) foragers and reserves, or (c) nurses and reserves. Samples were taken over a 72-h period and radioactivity in the head, thorax and abdomen of each worker was determined. There were significant differences between nurses, foragers and reserves in quantity of food consumed, rate of transfer, and internal distribution of radioactivity. These differences were related to their respective roles of foraging, food storage and transfer, and brood tending. The quantity of food taken per subcaste was dependent on the total amount of food in the colony, with transfer rates differing between subcastes as the quantity of food in the colony increased. The rate at which protein was transferred between subcastes was slower in the reserves than that in either foragers or nurses. Therefore, reserves may serve as a temporary store of protein for the colony.     

深圳市红火蚁婚飞规律研究

本研究利用自制红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren收集装置对红火蚁婚飞规律进行研究,结果表明:本试验过程中共观察到婚飞273次,无论大、中、小蚁巢均有有翅蚁婚飞现象;共收集到有翅蚁10 618头,雌雄比为2.1:1;单次婚飞有翅蚁均为雌虫的有167次,均为雄虫的有25次,单次婚飞有翅蚊既有雌虫又有雄虫(雌虫+雄虫)的共81次;同一蚁巢可以发生多次婚飞,同一蚁巢不同次婚飞的有翅蚁性别比也会发生变化;除2009年11月和2010年2月未收集到有翅蚁,其余各月均可观察到有翅蚁婚飞,婚飞最高峰期为2010年4月和5月,其次是2009年6-9月,婚飞次数和收集到的有翅蚁数量成明显的正向相关关系;8:30-15:00均有有翅蚁婚飞,而婚飞高峰期为11:30-13:30,婚飞一般持续30～150 min.婚飞一般发生在雨后晴天或相对低温后气温快速回升以后.     

Oviposition and oogenesis in virgin fire ant females Solenopsis invicta are associated with a high level of dopamine in the brain

Abstract. In the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren, virgin females are capable of shedding their wings (dealation) and laying haploid eggs. However, dealation and reproduction are inhibited by a queen primer pheromone that depresses the release of Juvenile Hormone by the corpora allata. In an attempt to identify other neural signals that trigger the reproductive system, we measured the effect on brain biogenic amines of separation from the queen. Dopamine in the brain of virgin females increased from 552 ± 42 to 971 ± 65 fMol/brain when reproduction and dealation were stimulated by 15 days of separation. Octopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine did not change significantly after the separation. Isolated virgin females fed with a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor 3-iodo- l -tyrosine mixed in sucrose for 15 days laid significantly fewer eggs and had fewer chorionated oocytes in their ovarioles than females fed with sucrose only. Restoring dopamine biosynthesis by adding l -dopa to the food also restored oogenesis and oviposition. Dealation was not affected by 3-iodo- l -tyrosine or l -dopa. The possible role of dopamine as the neural target of the queen pheromone regarding its potent allotoregulatory effect in other insects is discussed.     

红火蚁的危害及其防治

一种非常危险的入侵性害虫——红火蚁近年在我国台湾和香港登陆,对中国大陆和亚洲其他地区构成严重威胁。本文介绍了红火蚁的危害以及对红火蚁的防治方法。     

Queen recruitment in a multiple-queen population of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta

We assessed patterns of new queen recruitment in a polygyne(multiple queens per nest) population of the fire ant Solenopsisinvicta in its introduced range. Newly recruited queens wereidentified using four physiological markers, and genotypic datafrom nuclear and mitochondrial markers were used to estimaterelatedness of new nest mate queens to each other and to theolder nest mate queens. In total, 1.7% of the queens collectedin late spring and early summer were deemed to be new recruits.The relatedness of these queens to each other and to the olderqueens within nests was not significantly different from zero,suggesting that newly recruited queens represent a random sampleof potential reproductive queens in the population. Moreover,the number of new queens recruited within nests was not correlatedwith the number of older queens present and did not differ significantlyfrom a Poisson distribution. Thus, queen recruitment in this populationof S. invicta appears to occur at random with respect to thenumber of older queens present within nests.     

红火蚁蚁丘大小与诱集工蚁数量的关系

采用诱饵诱集法研究了荒地、绿化带生境中红火蚁蚁丘体积、蚁丘表面基部面积与诱集工蚁数量之间的关系.结果表明：在荒地生境中,随着蚁丘体积的增大,诱集工蚁数量表现为先迅速增加、后增大减缓、最终趋于平衡的规律,当蚁丘体积、蚁丘表面基部面积分别为11634 cm³、1308 cm²时,诱集工蚁数达到最大值,为每诱饵291 头;在绿化带生境中,随着蚁丘体积的增大,诱集工蚁数量动态与荒地生境相似,当蚁丘体积>18089 cm³时,诱集工蚁数量的增幅明显变缓,当蚁丘体积为25974 cm³时,诱集工蚁数达到最大值,为每诱饵232头.韦布尔函数方程可较好地描述诱集的红火蚁工蚁数量与蚁丘体积、蚁丘表面基部面积间的关系.     

广东吴川红火蚁消长规律

采用系统调查的方法研究广东吴川红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren蚁巢数量、蚁丘体积和工蚁的年度变化规律,结果表明1年之中红火蚁活动蚁巢密度出现2个高峰期,分别在6~8月和10~12月;4~7月和10~11月新增活动蚁巢数量较大;蚁巢自然消亡出现在多个时间,其中以9月最多。4~11月红火蚁工蚁活动旺盛,用诱饵诱集法监测,5、6月和10、11月红火蚁工蚁出现2个明显盛期,而陷阱法中工蚁数量为单峰型,高峰出现在7月。2种监测方法获得的工蚁数量间相关系数为0.88,达到极显著相关。气温、地表温度、5cm土壤温度与2种方法获得的工蚁数量间相关系数分别为0.88,0.88,0.86和0.93,0.94,0.95,均达极显著水平。红火蚁蚁丘体积4~6月、9~12月增大幅度较大,其中6月份蚁巢增长最为明显。     

Effect of queen number on the production of sexuals in natural populations of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta

ABSTRACT. To determine whether the production of sexuals in the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is related to queen number in the field, the numbers of sexuals in monogyne (M) and polygyne (P) colonies of this species were compared. Large colonies ( n =25 M and 25 P) were collected at random during spring, summer and fall when sexuals are actively produced, and the numbers of sexuals present were counted. The numbers of alates plus sexual pupae and larvae in M colonies far exceeded those in P colonies in each season. Significant differences between M and P colonies were also found when the numbers of alates and sexual immatures (pupae + larvae) were compared separately in each season. In addition, M colonies contained significantly more female sexuals (alates + pupae) than did P colonies in the summer and fall, and significantly more males in all three seasons. The negative relationship between queen number and number of sexuals provides evidence that queen control over the production of sexuals, previously established in laboratory experiments, also occurs under natural conditions.     

红火蚁入侵草坪过程中蚂蚁类群变动趋势

观察研究了红火蚁入侵草坪之后蚂蚁群落结构的变动趋势。对各处理区在不同时期的蚂蚁优势种进行了分析,结果表明,与对照区相比红火蚁入侵后各处理区的蚂蚁优势种发生了明显改变,红火蚁替代了原来的优势蚂蚁种类,并在数量上占主导地位,而且各处理区的蚂蚁类群多样性、均匀度降低,优势度明显增大。通过分析红火蚁入侵过程中各处理区的蚂蚁类群相似性,表明轻度发生区与对照区的蚂蚁类群相似性系数q一直处在0.25-0.50之间,为中等不相似;中度发生区与对照区的蚂蚁类群相似性系数q一直处在0.075-0.444之间,为中等不相似或极不相似;重度发生区与对照区的蚂蚁类群相似性系数q一直处在0.0-0.222之间,为极不相似,这也说明了不同的红火蚁危害程度对本地蚂蚁类群结构的影响是不同的,红火蚁种群数量越大,对本地蚂蚁类群的影响也越大,排挤或取代它们所需要的时间也越短。