红火蚁搬尸信号物质的初步研究

蚂蚁死亡后在密闭、潮湿的巢穴环境内非常容易滋生病原菌,威胁巢穴健康。为了防止尸体的存在危害健康个体,工蚁识别尸体上的“死亡信号”并将其搬离巢穴。本研究采用溶剂提取法提取工蚁尸体化合物,并利用化学方法转化尸体提取物,然后测试红火蚁Solenopsis invicta工蚁对4种主要提取成分——酯、脂肪酸、表皮碳氢化合物以及哌啶生物碱的行为反应。结果表明,红火蚁尸体的正己烷提取物具有很强的搬尸活性,高达76%的滤纸条被搬运到弃尸堆。酯、自由脂肪酸和结合态脂肪酸都能引起红火蚁的搬尸行为,搬尸活性分别为40%、28%和19%。自由脂肪酸转化成甲酯后搬尸活性不变,但结合态脂肪酸转化成甲酯后搬尸活性丧失。此外,红火蚁尸体还释放出多种能够诱导搬尸行为的未知成分,说明“死亡信号”具有复杂性。     

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13 h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 mg/L呋虫胺处理9 h后,红火蚁中型工蚁爬杆率分别为100.00%、45.56%和7.78%,抓附率分别为100.00%、33.33%和15.56%,行走率为100.00%、42.22%和25.56%,攻击率为100.00%、36.67%和0.00%。呋虫胺对红火蚁中型工蚁具有良好毒杀活性和行为影响,在红火蚁防控上具有良好应用前景。     

入侵红火蚁对脊椎动物的影响研究进展

红火蚁(Solenopsis invicta)具有扩散迅速、攻击性强等特点,常对入侵地区造成巨大的生态危害。虽然很多文献报道了红火蚁对无脊椎动物的影响,但红火蚁对脊椎动物影响的研究较少,也缺乏系统的总结。综述了红火蚁对不同脊椎动物类群的影响和主要的研究方法(野外调查、案例分析、实验室评估、比较分析和人工移除红火蚁),以及脊椎动物对红火蚁的行为和生理防御机制。一般而言,红火蚁常以腹部末端的螯针攻击其他动物并释放毒液,可直接捕食、伤害各种脊椎动物的卵、幼体和成体,并影响动物的行为。此外,红火蚁可降低生境内无脊椎动物的丰度,间接影响捕食者的种群数量。尽管红火蚁是陆生生物,但鱼类可能取食掉落在水面的有翅繁殖蚁而中毒,且漂浮于水面的红火蚁蚁筏也可能对鱼类造成威胁。由于两栖类动物通常体型较小,运动能力较弱,且皮肤缺乏角质层与鳞片毛发等结构的保护,极易受到红火蚁的攻击和伤害。对于鸟类和爬行类,红火蚁主要捕食卵和幼体,并干扰成体的筑巢和育幼行为,降低其繁殖成功率。此外,红火蚁对小型哺乳动物的觅食行为和种群数量均可造成负面影响,并可蛰刺伤害牛羊等家畜,对畜牧业造成巨大的经济损失。一些动物对红火蚁具有行为防御,如用附肢蹬掉体表的红火蚁,或避免取食或接触红火蚁。此外,一些动物能对红火蚁的毒素产生抗体,或调整体内荷尔蒙水平以应对红火蚁的攻击。然而,仍不清楚这些行为和生理反应是否普遍存在于其他脊椎动物,以及能在多大程度上保护其免受红火蚁伤害。值得注意的是,几乎所有的相关研究都是由国外研究者完成的,建议我国学者更多的关注红火蚁对我国经济物种、珍稀动物和食蚁物种的影响。     

水浸对红火蚁工蚁死亡率的影响

洪水会使陆生生物,尤其是土栖昆虫,陷入缺氧的困境。红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren一般将蚁巢建在潮湿的地方,使得蚁巢有很大的可能性被洪水冲袭。本文研究了浸水时间以及温度对红火蚁工蚁死亡的影响,包括小型工蚁和大型工蚁在25℃恒定温度下的耐浸水能力以及温度变化对小型工蚁死亡率的影响。结果表明:(1)浸水时间对于红火蚁工蚁的死亡率影响较大。浸水时间越长,工蚁死亡率越高。大型工蚁和小型工蚁对浸水的耐受性存在差异,大型工蚁比小型工蚁具有更强的耐浸水能力。浸水时间(T)和工蚁死亡率(M)关系符合以下模型:小型工蚁M minor=-25.01+4.49T;大型工蚁M m ajor=-26.9+3.96T。(2)温度对于小型工蚁的浸水死亡率影响明显。浸水10 h,小型工蚁死亡率(Y)和温度(X)为开口向上的抛物线关系:Y=115.2-11.88X+0.33X2。在温度X=18.21℃,方程具最小值,死亡率Y=7.04%。     

红火蚁克星对入侵红火蚁的防治效果

经过一年来的野外试验,结果表明红火蚁克星对红火蚁具有显著的控制效果.施药后4d,红火蚁全巢死亡率达83.33～92.31%,施药后7～10 d全巢死亡.施药后90d和180d监测结果表明,诱测点在6个月内未出现新的蚁巢.     

电场对红火蚁工蚁聚集的影响

为了研究电刺激对红火蚁聚集的影响,本研究通过改变电压、电线裸露程度及电线间距,测定了在不同电场强度下红火蚁工蚁的聚集程度和行为反应。结果表明在不同电压(1.5 V、3 V、6 V)、两根裸露电线不同间距(2 mm、4 mm)条件下,电压6 V、电线间距为2 mm时对红火蚁的吸引效果最强,电线上聚集工蚁最多达59.2头;强电场(电压36 V,电线间距分别为2 mm、4 mm)条件下,电压36 V、电线间距2 mm时电线上聚集工蚁最多达75头;另外,电线裸露程度也显著影响电场对红火蚁的吸引作用。在模拟设备电压(36 V)条件下红火蚁接受电刺激后产生明显的行为反应,表现为身体不断颤抖,在电线周围继续寻找电刺激。     

红火蚁工蚁对绿僵菌侵染蛹的防御行为

研究了红火蚁工蚁感染绿僵菌后在蛹室的行为变化,以及健康工蚁对侵染蛹的行为保护机制.结果表明: 工蚁被绿僵菌侵染后,在蛹室的活动时间逐渐减少,由第1天的103.4 s降至第3天的38.5 s;而且育幼时间占蛹室活动时间的比例也下降,由第1天的13.6%降至第3天的3.5%.当蛹被绿僵菌侵染后,工蚁对侵染蛹的梳理总时间为对照组的5.3倍,每次梳理的平均持续时间为对照组的5.2倍.梳理行为能显著减少侵染蛹的体表分生孢子数量,在无工蚁、2只工蚁和10只工蚁存在条件下,蛹体表平均孢子数分别为103.1、51.6和31.3个.工蚁的存在能抑制蛹体表孢子的萌发,处理20 h后,无工蚁、2只工蚁和10只工蚁存在条件下,蛹体表孢子萌发率分别为95.1%、80.4%和59.9%.蛹的羽化率随着工蚁数量增加显著升高.红火蚁工蚁通过社会行为防御病原真菌侵染蛹的策略为种群的延续和发展提供了保障.     

红火蚁工蚁对跟踪信息素的触角电位和行为反应

【目的】测定红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren工蚁对其跟踪信息素的触角电位（EAG）及行为反应。【方法】解剖红火蚁工蚁的杜氏腺, 用正己烷溶剂提取其分泌的跟踪信息素进行气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）分析, 并测定了红火蚁工蚁对杜氏腺提取物、 工蚁提取物和合成的法尼烯混合物的EAG和招募行为反应。【结果】通过与合成的法尼烯混合物的气相色谱（GC）保留时间和质谱图比对, 发现杜氏腺提取物的主要成分并不是Z, E-α-法尼烯。EAG测定结果表明, 红火蚁工蚁对杜氏腺提取物、 工蚁提取物及100 μg的法尼烯混合物均有较强的EAG反应, 其次为10 μg和1 μg的法尼烯混合物。在招募行为测定中, 杜氏腺提取物和工蚁提取物招募作用明显, 而10, 1, 0.1和0.01 μg法尼烯混合物的作用均不显著。【结论】Z, E-α-法尼烯不是红火蚁跟踪信息素的主要成分; 红火蚁工蚁对杜氏腺提取物、 工蚁提取物有较强的EAG反应和明显的招募行为反应。     

0.7％氟蚁腙饵剂对红火蚁的毒杀效果及行为影响

本文评价了0.7%氟蚁腙饵剂对红火蚁Solenopsis invicta Buren中型工蚁毒杀效果、聚集率、抓附能力和行走能力的影响。试验结果表明0.7%氟蚁腙饵剂对红火蚁具有较好的毒杀效果,并能有效降低红火蚁的聚集、抓附和行走能力。0.7%氟蚁腙饵剂处理0、1、2和3 d后,工蚁死亡率分别为7.50%、48.06%、86.04%和96.74%;聚集率分别为88.52%、83.89%、77.79%和0;抓附率分别为64.32%、33.88%、27.30%和0;正常行走率为86.30%、79.72%、61.27%和55.56%,行走速率分别为1.83 cm/s、1.50 cm/s、0.56 cm/s和0.27 cm/s。与饲喂氟蚁腙饵剂与空白饵料或糖水混合物相比,单独饲喂氟蚁腙饵剂,短时间内会产生更高的死亡率,但最终死亡率无显著性差异。本研究可为氟蚁腙饵剂控制红火蚁提供可行性参考,为氟蚁腙科学合理防治红火蚁技术提供数据支持。     

亚致死浓度赤藓糖醇对红火蚁工蚁觅食和弃尸行为的影响

红火蚁是国际上最具危险性外来害虫之一,已入侵华南地区并造成严重危害。为弄清潜在杀虫剂赤藓糖醇在亚致死浓度下对红火蚁的影响,本研究使用0.05 g/mL赤藓糖醇水溶液喂食室内蚁群24 h,观察了工蚁的觅食行为和弃尸行为的变化。结果显示,取食赤藓糖醇后工蚁发现食物时间约为5 min,而取食10%蔗糖水后发现食物时间缩短到2 min以内;取食赤藓糖醇后工蚁招募速度和食物搬运效率也显著低于对照。取食赤藓糖醇后工蚁发现尸体时间和弃尸速度变化显著,发现尸体时间由对照的3.45 min延长至8.13 min,开始丢弃尸体时间由20 min延长至37.5 min,丢弃完所有尸体耗时由3.08 h增大至5.37 h。亚致死浓度赤藓糖醇显著降低了红火蚁工蚁觅食和弃尸能力。     

Sampling efficacy for the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cost-effective detection of invasive ant colonies before establishment in new ranges is imperative for the protection of national borders and reducing their global impact. We examined the sampling efficiency of food-baits and pitfall traps (baited and nonbaited) in detecting isolated red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) nests in multiple environments in Gainesville, FL. Fire ants demonstrated a significantly higher preference for a mixed protein food type (hotdog or ground meat combined with sweet peanut butter) than for the sugar or water baits offered. Foraging distance success was a function of colony size, detection trap used, and surveillance duration. Colony gyne number did not influence detection success. Workers from small nests (0- to 15-cm mound diameter) traveled no >3 m to a food source, whereas large colonies (>30-cm mound diameter) traveled up to 17 m. Baited pitfall traps performed best at detecting incipient ant colonies followed by nonbaited pitfall traps then food baits, whereas food baits performed well when trying to detect large colonies. These results were used to create an interactive model in Microsoft Excel, whereby surveillance managers can alter trap type, density, and duration parameters to estimate the probability of detecting specified or unknown S. invicta colony sizes. This model will support decision makers who need to balance the sampling cost and risk of failure to detect fire ant colonies.     

Characterization of vitellogenin in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Apocrita: Formicidae)

Vitellin (VN) and vitellogenin (VG) profiles were analyzed in monogyne and polygyne colonies of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Non-denaturing and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analyses indicated that the native VN was likely 350 kDa and comprised of two subunits in the molecular size range of 170-185 kDa. SDS-PAGE of hemolymph showed that the relative mobilities and subunit patterns of VG and VN were similar. VG was present in the hemolymph of reproductive queens; alate, virgin queens; and workers, but not in males. Anti-VN, prepared from polygyne egg homogenates, reacted with egg homogenates and with hemolymph VG from reproductive, monogyne and polygyne queens and alate, virgin polygyne queens. Analysis of circulating VG and ovarian development in alate, virgin queens showed that low levels of VG appeared by five days following adult eclosion, but egg development was not observed until seven weeks. VG was evident in newly inseminated queens, and increased steadily for the first three weeks following dealation. VG levels declined slightly near eclosion of the first workers (= nanitics) and dropped sharply after nanitic emergence at five weeks following dealation. Oocyte maturation peaked at days 15-25 following dealation, but otherwise remained low but steady. These studies provide the basis for future investigations into endocrine regulations of vitellogenesis in S. invicta queens.     

Modelling the potential spread of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (red imported fire ant) in Australia

Abstract  Quantifying the potential spread and density of an invading organism enables decision-makers to determine the most appropriate response to incursions. We present two linked models that estimate the spread of Solenopsis invicta Buren (red imported fire ant) in Australia based on limited data gathered after its discovery in Brisbane in 2001. A stochastic cellular automaton determines spread within a location (100 km by 100 km) and this is coupled with a model that simulates human-mediated movement of S. invicta to new locations. In the absence of any control measures, the models predict that S. invicta could cover 763 000–4 066 000 km² by the year 2035 and be found at 200 separate locations around Australia by 2017–2027, depending on the rate of spread. These estimated rates of expansion (assuming no control efforts were in place) are higher than those experienced in the USA in the 1940s during the early invasion phases in that country. Active control efforts and quarantine controls in the USA (including a concerted eradication attempt in the 1960s) may have slowed spread. Further, milder winters, the presence of the polygynous social form, increased trade and human mobility in Australia in 2000s compared with the USA in 1940s could contribute to faster range expansion.     

红火蚁告警信息素的GC-EAD分析

[背景]2-乙基-3,6-二甲基吡嗪是红火蚁告警信息素的主要成分,本研究旨在分离、鉴定红火蚁工蚁浸提液中告警信息素成分,分析红火蚁工蚁对告警信息素合成样品混合物的电生理反应。[方法]200 g红火蚁工蚁的正己烷浸提液过硅胶柱,正己烷—丙酮体系洗脱,气相色谱（GC）和气相色谱—质谱联用（GC-MS）分析检测浸提液中含告警信息素的流分,气相色谱—触角电位联用仪（GC-EAD）分析红火蚁工蚁对2-乙基-3,5（6）-二甲基吡嗪混合物的电生理活性。[结果]红火蚁工蚁正己烷浸提液硅胶柱层析分离能够得到含2-乙基-3,6-二甲基吡嗪的流分,GC-MS分析的保留时间在11.45 min。经过GC-EAD分析,发现红火蚁工蚁对2-乙基-3,5（6）-二甲基吡嗪混合物有显著的电生理反应。[结论与意义]红火蚁工蚁对2-乙基-3,6-二甲基吡嗪的电生理反应比2-乙基-3,5-二甲基吡嗪高。     

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。     

Apolipophorin-III-like protein expressed in the antenna of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Antennal proteins of the male fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, with the objective of identifying pheromone-binding proteins, which have not previously been found in ant antennae. The major low-molecular weight protein found in the male fire ant antenna was subjected to Edman degradation to determine the N-terminal amino acid sequence. Degenerate PCR primers based on this sequence were used to obtain a cDNA sequence corresponding to the full-length protein sequence. In-gel trypsin digestion followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and HPLC-ESI/MS/MS demonstrated that the protein gel spot contained only the protein corresponding to the cDNA sequence obtained by PCR. The sequence is similar to apolipophorin-III, an exchangeable lipid-binding protein. Fire ant apolipophorin-III is expressed in the antenna as well as the head, thorax and abdomen.