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Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Inside and Outside Hives of the Western Honey Bee Apis Mellifera L

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Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Inside and Outside Hives of the Western Honey Bee Apis Mellifera L 44 ChileanChilean J. Agric. J. Agric. Anim. Anim. Sci., exSci., Agro-Ciencia ex Agro-Ciencia (2020) (2020) 36(1): 36(1):44-51.44-51. https://doi.org/10.29393/CHJAAS36-1D40001 ISSN 0719-3882 print ISSN 0719-3890 online DIVERSITY OF ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HIVES OF THE WESTERN HONEY BEE APIS MELLIFERA L. (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE), JUJUY, ARGENTINA Gisela Beatriz Ruiz1, 2* and Marcelo Benítez Ahrendts 1, 2 1 Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Avenida Bolivia 1239, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy,Argentina. 2 Laboratorio de Microbiología y Sanidad Apícola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Alberdi 47, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina; [email protected] * Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Ants are frequent visitors to Apis mellifera L. hives. Certain species may cause serious loss of productivity to apiculture. The objective of this study was to describe the diversity and abundance of ants both outside and inside the hives of Apis mellifera L. in Valles Templados, Jujuy province, Argentine. Ants were collected by hand and pitfall traps in the Spring and Summer season of 2016, 2017 and 2018, in apiaries found at three different localities of Valles Templados: Río Blanco, Tilquiza and Severino. Pitfall trapping resulted in 824 specimens belonging to 10 species in Severino, 208 individuals of 9 species in Tilquiza, and 289 individuals of 2 species in Río Blanco. The most common ant species found were: Pheidole sp. (56.07%), Linepithema humile (94.81%), and Solenopsis sp. (56.73%) in Severino, Rio Blanco and Tilquiza, respectively. The hand collection of ants yielded 248 individuals of 7 species collected in Severino, 35 individuals of 3 species in Tilquiza, and 294 individuals of 2 species in Río Blanco. The most common species was Linepithema humile 67.3%. The abundance figures showed significant differences among sampling sites. Several species collected by hand were the same as those collected with pitfall traps at the three localities. This study provides information about the taxonomic composition of Formicidae associated with Apis mellifera L. in Valles Templados in Jujuy. It also provides valuable information on the effect of ants on bee hives, which enables to develop control measures where necessary. Key words: ants, bee, Pheidole sp., Linepithema humile, Solenopsis sp., Apis mellifera L, diversity, hives. INTRODUCTION Dead bees, mummified larvae (due to mycoses) and other evidences that bees have Argentina has the largest and most well- been attacked can be detected by observing the developed apicultural industry in the whole ground below and in front of the hives (Benítez- Southern hemisphere and one of the biggest in Ahrendts et al., 2015). In fact, there are many the world. Around 4,000,000 hives and 35,000 predators that can reduce and exterminate bee registered producers contribute to more than 20% colonies. Among them are several species of of world exports (Ferrari et al., 2011). Healthy ants and wasps (Guzmán et al., 2011). Ants can bees have habits that promote hive hygiene, sometimes wander or nest inside the hives, taking which prevents certain diseases or the action of advantage of the warm and humid environment parasites and arthropod predators (Dini and inside. However, not all species are harmful to Bedascarrasbure, 2011). bees. The main problem with ants nesting inside Received: 11 November 2019. Accepted: 02 January 2020. Ruiz and Benítez. Ants in honey bee hives 45 hives is the inconvenience for beekeepers when Previous studies have described Linepithema examining the hives (Valega, 2016). A previous humile as harmful to beekeeping due to honey study carried out in Valles Templados (province theft and displacement of bees, which weakens of Jujuy, Argentina) concluded that the ant hives and causes a negative impact on the species found inside and around the hives were efficiency of pollination and productivity of bees not harmful to bees (Ruiz and Benítez, 2018). (Jones et al., 2016). However, this species also acts Ants belonging to the Pheidole species are as a potential mechanical vector of pathogenic abundant and prevail in warm-climate places, microorganisms (Ipinza-Regla et al., 1984, Ipinza- especially in leaf litter and soil, feeding on Regla et al., 2015). The Pheidole species is very other insects or wandering in search of sugary attracted to honey, and has also been described substances (Longino and Cox, 2009). Solenopsis as harmful to bees (Moreno-Moreno y Meza- sp. invades different ecosystems, including Santacruz, 1970). Due to its invasive nature, urban areas, feeding mainly on young plants, Solenopsis sp. can displace and kill bees from seeds and insects, and attacking small animals. weak and/or dying beehives (Ruiz and Benítez, Solenopsis sp. ants usually build their nests under 2018). Ants are highly adaptable and some wood, branches, and others (GISD, 2019). Some species are anthropophilic. In fact, they play genera of Acromyrmex that constitute the group an important role as their activity contributes of the “superior Attini” are known as leaf cutter, to shape the structures of plant communities pruning or farming ants. They feed on fungi, and those of other organisms (Lach, 2010). The which grow on leaf segments that they cut, and diversity analysis can determine the taxonomy, nest preferably in sandy soils (Culebra-Mason, preservation of these organisms, as well as the 2009; Nobua Behrmann, 2014). They have the structure and functioning of these communities ability to find the best path between their food of insects (Garcia et al., 2013). sources and nests traced with organic products The objective of this study was to describe that they emit (Anglada et al., 2013). Crematogaster the diversity of ants found outside and inside sp. is found in different tropical regions of the the hives of Apis mellifera L. in Valles Templados, world and in the Neotropical region (Blaimer, Jujuy province, Argentina. To our knowledge, 2012b). Its numerous species are generalist this is the first study on this topic and will allow fodders, forming small colonies under the loose for the identification, management and control of bark of trees or in dry wood (Hosoishi, 2015). ant species that can be harmful to beekeeping. Linepithema humile is found nesting under fallen and partially excavated logs. It is an annoying MATERIALS AND METHODS species in households, as it invades pantries and other places in search of sweet substances. Locations In general, it is recognized as a generalist forage The study was conducted in apiaries located and common soil inhabitant (Merrill et al., 2018). in Severino (24°34’97’’ S; 65°19’33’’ W), Tilquiza Workers sometimes steal honey from the hives of (24°05’ S; 65°17’ W) and Rio Blanco (64°13’0.04’’ young bees, recently installed, and compete with S; 65°14’54.1’’ W),Valles Templados (Jujuy them for the sources of nectar. Their small size province), which includes Dr. Manuel Belgrano, means that they can not be attacked by guardian Palpalá, El Carmen and San Antonio departments bees to drive the sting (Ruiz and Benítez, 2018). (Buitrago 1999). This region belongs to the Chaco Pachycondyla sp. can be found in both humid, phytogeographic province, which occupies the dry forests and savanna areas. The genus has a plain areas and low hills of the southeast of the cosmopolitan distribution. They build their nests province, forming wide ecotones or transition on the ground, leaf litter or rotten wood on the areas with Las Yungas rainforest (Cabrera, 1982). ground. All are predators and a few are generalists The natural flora consists of a transitional (Lattke, 2003). Ants belonging to the Camponotus wood (“Yungas-chaco”), dominated by genus show omnivorous habits, and usually feed xerophytic components, with plenty of bushes, on the sugary secretions of aphids and other cacti and spiny bromeliads. The climate is arthropods. They are known as carpenter ants, highland subtropical, mild, with a barren season and live in hollow trunks. They form colonies of and rainfall concentrated in summer. Winters different magnitudes in the soil, bases or canopies are cool, while summer temperatures are mild to of trees (EcuRed, 2017). Finally, Pseudomyrmex moderate; autumns vary from mild to cool and sp. ants live in the arboreal stratum, where they springs are hot. Environmental mismanagement nest inside dead branches or in modified thorns in this region is common. The warmest months of myrmecophile plants. They are common in record an average temperature of 20°C, while tropical moist forests, but they can also be found the coldest months reach an average of 11°C; in savannahs and cold regions (Ward, 2017). temperature variation is explained by an average 46 Chilean J. Agric. Anim. Sci., ex Agro-Ciencia (2020) 36(1):44-51. altitude of 1,100 m.a.s.l. Average rainfall reaches the community. Shannon Index (H) reflects the up to 1000 mm per year (Braun 2001). Unlike homogeneity. The more uniform the distribution Severino and Tilquiza, Rio Blanco shows a of the taxa that made up the assembly the greater gradual increase in urban population, with the value obtained. Finally, dominance indexes numerous industrial activities and commercial (D) consider the best represented taxon and this, establishments (Carrillo and Londero, 2016). in particular, shows the probability that two individuals chosen at random belong to the same Sample collection taxon (Moreno, 2001). Sampling was carried out near apiaries belonging to the Cooperativa de Productores β diversity measurement Apícolas de Jujuy Ltda. (COPAJ) in Río Blanco, The three study sites were compared in Tilquiza and Severino (Valles Templados of Jujuy, order to determine similarities in taxonomic Argentina) during 2016, 2017 and 2018. Hand composition by means of the Jaccard similarity collection of ants inside the hives was performed index.
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