DOCSLIB.ORG

House-Infesting Ants of the Eastern United States

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
House-Infesting Ants of the Eastern United States 1.0 1.0 1.1 111111. 25 111111.4 111111.6 111111.25 111111.4 111111.6_ MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANCARDS-1963-A NATIONAL BUREAU Of STANDARDS-1963-A HOUSE·INFESTING ANTS of THE EASTERN UNITED STATES Their Recognition, Biology, and Economic Importance By Marlon R. Smith Entomology Research Division Technical Bililetin No. 1326 Agricultural Research Service UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WISllInIton. D.C. Issued May 1985 For sale by the Superintendent or Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Wasblngton, D. C., 20402 • Price 45 cents Contents page Introduction___ _____ __ __ __ _____ __ ___ __ __ ____ __ _ ________ ____ __ ____ _ 1 Classification and Bionomics____________________________________ 2 Economic Importance_______ _________ _ _________ ________________ 4 Collecting, Shipping, and Identifying Ants________________________ i Key to Subfamilies of Formicidae_____________________________ ~------ 9 Keys to Species_ ______ ___ __ ___ ___ __ ___ _ _ ____ _______ ___ __ ___ ____ _ __ 10 Discussion of the Species___________________________________________ 17 Labidus coecus (Latreille) __ __ __ ____ _____ _______ _______ __ ______ __ 17 NeivQ,myrmex nigrescens (Cresson)________________________________ 18 Neivamyrmex opacilhorGX (Emery) _ ______________________________ 19 Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr_________________________________ 20 Aphaenogaster rudis (Emery)_.... ________________________________ 21 Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (Mayr)______________________________ 23 Aphaenogaster fulva Roger______________________________________ 24 Pheidole bicarinata vinelandica ForeL_____________________________ 25 Pheidole jloridana Emery_ _____ ____ _____________________________ 26 Pheidole dentata Mayr__________________________________________ 27 Crematogasler ashmeadi Mayr___________ _____ ____________ ___ ____ 28 Crematogaster cerasi (Fitch) _ __ ___ ___ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _______ ____ ___ ___ _ _ 30 Orematogaster clara Mayr_______________________________________ 31 Crematogaster lineolata (Say) _ ____ __ __ __ ___________________ __ __ __ 32 Monomorium minimum (Bucklcy)_______________________________ 33 Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus)______________________ ________ _ 34 Monomorium jloricola (Jerdon) _ __________ ___ ___ _______________ __ 36 J.lonomorium destructor (Jerdon) __ __ __ ___ ___ _ _ _ __ _ ___ __ __ ___ ___ __ 37 Solenopsis xyloni McCook______________________________________ 38 Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) ____ __ ____ __ _ _ ___ __ _ _ _______ __ _ _ _ _ 40 Solenopsis saevissima riehteri ForeL______________________________ 41 Soienopsis molesta (Say)________________________________________ 43 Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus)_______________________________ 45 Tetramoriu1Tl. guineense (Fabricius) __ .:__ ___ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ ___ __ ____ _ 47 Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) ____ _____ _ _ _ _____ __ _____ __ _ _ __ _ _ 48 At/a texana (Buckley) _ ___ ___ ___ ________ ____ _____________ __ _ ___ _ 50 lridomyrmex humilis (Mayr)____________________________________ 52 Iridomyrmex pruinosus (Roger)__________________________________ 54 Dorymyrmex pyramicus (Roger) ____ ________ ______________ _______ 56 Tapinoma sessile (Say)_________________________________________ 57 Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) _______________ -___________ 59 Campanotus castaneus (Latreille) ____ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ ____ ____ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ 60 Camponotus torluganus Emery_______________________ .___________ 62 Camponotus pennsylvanieus (DeGeer) _ ____ _____________________ __ 63 Camponotus ferrugineus (Fabricius) _ __ ______ _________________ __ __ 67 Cl1mponotus abdominalis jloridanus (Buckley)______________________ 69 Camponotus earyae discolor (Buckley)____________________________ 70 Camponotus nearcticus Emery_______ _______________ _____ ________ 72 Campanotus rasilisWheeler__________ ___ _ __ _____________________ 73 Paraireckina longicornis (Latreille) ___ ___ __ _____ _ _ _ _ ___ __ _ ____ ____ _ 74 Paratreehina (Nylan'ri.eria) spp___________________________________ 76 Prenolepis impllris (Say) _______ __ _ _________ ____ __ ____ __ _ ____ __ __ 78 Lasius alienus (Foerster)_______________________________________ 80 Lasius neoniger Emery __ __ _ __ __ __ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ __ ______ __ ___ _ _____ _ 81 Lasius umbratus (Nylander)_____________________________________ 84 Acanthomyopsclaviger (Roger)_________ ___ __ __ __ ____ _____ __ _____ _ 86 Aeanthomyops interjeetus (Mayr)_________________________________ 88 Acanthomyops murphyi (Forel) _ ________ ___ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ _ _ _______ 89 Acanthomyops latipes (Walsh)____________________________________ 91 Glossary____ _ __ __ ____ _ _ _ ___ ___ _ ____ _ _ _ _ __ ___ _ _ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ ___ _ __ 93 Bibliography______________________________________________________ 98 n HOUSE·INFESTING ANTS OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES: Their Recognition, Biology, and Economic Importance By .Marion R. Smith,' entomologist, Entomology Research Di'visioll, A.gricllltural He,'!earc:h Servic:e INTRODUCTION Eaelt yeal' numorous reql1c.c;ts for information on the identification :Lnd cont.l"Ol of hOllse-infesting ants are reeeived by various Federal and State agencies, colleges and uni\'cI'Sitics, boar'ds of health, and pest-controlopemtol's, 1ne! i \·id uals in these organ izations who handle sHell requc..:;ts find tlt('.I1lS('\;'es greatly handicapped because of the lack () f eomprehcnsi H1 litL'm/ lIl'e (btling with COllllllon house-infesting ants. Often they are llllallle to identil'y the ants either to genus or species. This bulletin has been pre.pared to take care of some of t.he needs of techni('al and semitechnical \\'orkm·s. Ho\\'c\'cr, no attempt has been nUH1(\ to l'o\'er the highly specialized Held of :tnt. control. Origina.lly, I had hoped to include all house-infesting ants of the United Sta.tes. I~('('au;:)e of the l!wk of kllO\~'ledg-e of th~se il~lts in sev~rall'egions, espe­ ('[[dly W('stem ~iOrtll j\JlIet'lca, It. was tnougllt best to lllclude only ants of the eastern l~nitcd State". Howe\'er, IlHlny of the ant.s discussed occur also in tho "re...;tel'll States, In this bulletin I have furnished keys to species, based on workers of [L11 t.he well-known, house-infesting ants of the eastern United States. Each speeiesis fully descl'ibec! and figm'ed, and its biology and eeonomie importance discussed, I have also given the avn-ila,hle ('omnlOn n~unes of the spceies (includin~ t.hose ttppl'oved by the Ento­ molo~i(':tl Society of Amel'ien); stateel whether the alit WitS intro­ dueed, ilnd if so, its prollable oL"iginaJ hOllle; outlined its range of dis­ tribution, especially ill the rnitNl States; and indica,ted whether it has been confused with othCl' species. Technical terms are given in ft glos..:;ary. Imporbwt. referenl'es al'e listed under each species and also in the bibliogra,phy. Because the biology of only It very few ants has boon intensi\'cly studied, much of t.he informat.ion given is hased on miscellaneous oiJ::;el'vations. Although the bulletin deals primarily with ants as house pests, e\'el'y way in which a species is known to be inimi('al to mall is also mentioned. 'Yhen ants infest. a house, they may be represented by workers, female.s, or males, 01' any possible combinat ion of these castes. Since the worker is the most common, tl'oulliesome, nnd best known, this bllllet.indea.ls with it. only. Smith (1!H:3) presents a means of identifying males to genus, and Creighton (lV50), of females amI workers to speeies. However, the identification of males and females to species is a difficult task and is not generally recommended. 1 Retired. 1 2 TECHNICAL BULLETIN 1326, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE Classification and Bionomics Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera, which also includes the 'wasps and bees. The ants comprise the family B'ormicidae, and are distinguished from their nearest relatives by two important charac­ ters: Ona of these is the differentiation of the abdomen into two well­ marked regions-a slender, one- or two-segmented, freely moving ped­ icel, and a largel', more compact terminal portion, the gaster; the oth~r separating character is the elbowed antenna, in which the first seg­ ment, or scape, is greatly elongated in both the female and the worker. In the male, the antenna frequently does not appear to be elbowed, since the scape is not al ways noticeably lengthened. .Ants can be distinguished f!"om termites, with which they are com­ monly confused, by the strong constriction or "waist" between the thomx and the abdomen, and the two pairs of wings of which the an­ teriOl' pair is much larger than the posterior pair, ,both having few \'eins. Termites, on the other hand, have two pairs of wings, approxi­ mately eqtutl in size with numerous vains. They have a tendency to lose their wings more teadily than the ants. Termites also differ from the winged ants in that the abdomen is broadly joined to the thorax, There are normally three distinct castes of ants: Workers, females, and males. The male is generally winged, and retains its wings until death. Its size is usually intermediate between that of the worker and the female, and the male is characterized by its protruding genital appendages, the presence of ocelli, poorly developed or vestigial man­ dibles, and extraordinarily large eyes, which are out of proportion to the remainder of the head. Apparently, the sole flUlction of the maJa is to mate with the unfertilized female; when mating has been accom­ plished, the male perishes. Mating may take place in the nest, on the ground, or in the ILir. Ma.1e.c;; are produced in old or very large colonies only, where there is an abundance of food, since much nourishment is required to bring males to maturity. After attaining maturity, the ma.le usually does not rema,in long in the parental nest. After leav­ ing it, he may even succumb to predators ttnd the elements without having mated. The female, generally the largest of the three castes, normally pos­ sesses wings but loses thrun after mating. She usually possesses three ocelli in addition to the pair of large compound eyes, a large thorax to accommodate the two pail'S of wmgs, and a large abdomen for the production of numerous eggs.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Predicting Future Coexistence in a North American Ant Community Sharon Bewick1,2, Katharine L
    Predicting future coexistence in a North American ant community Sharon Bewick1,2, Katharine L. Stuble1, Jean-Phillipe Lessard3,4, Robert R. Dunn5, Frederick R. Adler6,7 & Nathan J. Sanders1,3 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 2National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 3Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark 4Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 5Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 6Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 7Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Keywords Abstract Ant communities, climate change, differential equations, mechanistic models, species Global climate change will remodel ecological communities worldwide. How- interactions. ever, as a consequence of biotic interactions, communities may respond to cli- mate change in idiosyncratic ways. This makes predictive models that Correspondence incorporate biotic interactions necessary. We show how such models can be Sharon Bewick, Department of Biology, constructed based on empirical studies in combination with predictions or University of Maryland, College Park, MD assumptions regarding the abiotic consequences of climate change. Specifically, 20742, USA. Tel: 724-833-4459; we consider a well-studied ant community in North America. First, we use his- Fax: 301-314-9358; E-mail: [email protected] torical data to parameterize a basic model for species coexistence. Using this model, we determine the importance of various factors, including thermal Funding Information niches, food discovery rates, and food removal rates, to historical species coexis- RRD and NJS were supported by DOE-PER tence.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ants of Oklahoma Master of Science
    THE ANTS OF OKLAHOMA By Jerry H. Young(I\" Bachelor of Science Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College Stillwater, Oklahoma 1955 Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE January 1 1956 tl<lAWMA AGCMCl«.f�Al L �Ci'!AlttCAl e&U.Ull LIBRARY JUL16195 6 THE ANTS OF OKLAHOMA Thesis Approved: Thesis Adviser }>JcMem��f � 't'" he Thesis ) Committee Member of the Thesis Committee 7'4'.��Member of the Thesis Committee Head of the Department ifean of the Graduate School 361565 ii PREFACE The study of the distribution of ants in the United States has been a long and continuous process with many contributors, but the State of Oklahoma has not received the attentions of these observers to any great extent. The only known list of ants of Oklahoma is one prepared by Mo Ro Smith (1935)0 Early in 1954 a survey of the state of Oklahoma was made to determine the species present and their distributiono The results of this survey, which blanketed the entire State, are given in this paper. The author wishes to express his appreciation to Dro Do E. Howell, chairman of the writer's thesis committee, for his valuable assistance and careful guidance in the preparation of this papero Also, much guidance on preparation of this manuscrip_t was received from Drs. Do Eo Bryan, William H. Irwin and F. A. Fenton. Many of the determin­ ations were made by M. R. Smith.. Vital infonnation was obtained from the museums at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College and the University of Oklahoma.
    [Show full text]
  • Check List 8(4): 722–730, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (Available at Journal of Species Lists and Distribution
    Check List 8(4): 722–730, 2012 © 2012 Check List and Authors Chec List ISSN 1809-127X (available at www.checklist.org.br) Journal of species lists and distribution Check list of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: PECIES S Formicidae) of the eastern Acre, Amazon, Brazil OF Patrícia Nakayama Miranda 1,2*, Marco Antônio Oliveira 3, Fabricio Beggiato Baccaro 4, Elder Ferreira ISTS 1 5,6 L Morato and Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie 1 Universidade Federal do Acre, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza. BR 364 – Km 4 – Distrito Industrial. CEP 69915-900. Rio Branco, AC, Brazil. 2 Instituo Federal do Acre, Campus Rio Branco. Avenida Brasil 920, Bairro Xavier Maia. CEP 69903-062. Rio Branco, AC, Brazil. 3 Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus Florestal. Rodovia LMG 818, Km 6. CEP 35690-000. Florestal, MG, Brazil. 4 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia. CP 478. CEP 69083-670. Manaus, AM, Brazil. 5 Comissão Executiva do Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Laboratório de Mirmecologia – CEPEC/CEPLAC. Caixa Postal 07. CEP 45600-970. Itabuna, BA, Brazil. 6 Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz. CEP 45650-000. Ilhéus, BA, Brazil. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: The ant fauna of state of Acre, Brazilian Amazon, is poorly known. The aim of this study was to compile the species sampled in different areas in the State of Acre. An inventory was carried out in pristine forest in the municipality of Xapuri. This list was complemented with the information of a previous inventory carried out in a forest fragment in the municipality of Senador Guiomard and with a list of species deposited at the Entomological Collection of National Institute of Amazonian Research– INPA.
    [Show full text]
  • Nutritional Ecology of the Carpenter Ant Camponotus Pennsylvanicus (De Geer): Macronutrient Preference and Particle Consumption
    Nutritional Ecology of the Carpenter Ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer): Macronutrient Preference and Particle Consumption Colleen A. Cannon Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology Richard D. Fell, Chairman Jeffrey R. Bloomquist Richard E. Keyel Charles Kugler Donald E. Mullins June 12, 1998 Blacksburg, Virginia Keywords: diet, feeding behavior, food, foraging, Formicidae Copyright 1998, Colleen A. Cannon Nutritional Ecology of the Carpenter Ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer): Macronutrient Preference and Particle Consumption Colleen A. Cannon (ABSTRACT) The nutritional ecology of the black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer) was investigated by examining macronutrient preference and particle consumption in foraging workers. The crops of foragers collected in the field were analyzed for macronutrient content at two-week intervals through the active season. Choice tests were conducted at similar intervals during the active season to determine preference within and between macronutrient groups. Isolated individuals and small social groups were fed fluorescent microspheres in the laboratory to establish the fate of particles ingested by workers of both castes. Under natural conditions, foragers chiefly collected carbohydrate and nitrogenous material. Carbohydrate predominated in the crop and consisted largely of simple sugars. A small amount of glycogen was present. Carbohydrate levels did not vary with time. Lipid levels in the crop were quite low. The level of nitrogen compounds in the crop was approximately half that of carbohydrate, and exhibited seasonal dependence. Peaks in nitrogen foraging occurred in June and September, months associated with the completion of brood rearing in Camponotus.
    [Show full text]
  • James K. Wetterer
    James K. Wetterer Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458 Phone: (561) 799-8648; FAX: (561) 799-8602; e-mail: [email protected] EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle, WA, 9/83 - 8/88 Ph.D., Zoology: Ecology and Evolution; Advisor: Gordon H. Orians. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, MI, 9/81 - 9/83 M.S., Zoology: Ecology; Advisors: Earl E. Werner and Donald J. Hall. CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Ithaca, NY, 9/76 - 5/79 A.B., Biology: Ecology and Systematics. UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS III, France, 1/78 - 5/78 Semester abroad: courses in theater, literature, and history of art. WORK EXPERIENCE FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY, Wilkes Honors College 8/04 - present: Professor 7/98 - 7/04: Associate Professor Teaching: Biodiversity, Principles of Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Human Ecology, Environmental Studies, Tropical Ecology, Field Biology, Life Science, and Scientific Writing 9/03 - 1/04 & 5/04 - 8/04: Fulbright Scholar; Ants of Trinidad and Tobago COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, Department of Earth and Environmental Science 7/96 - 6/98: Assistant Professor Teaching: Community Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, and Tropical Ecology WHEATON COLLEGE, Department of Biology 8/94 - 6/96: Visiting Assistant Professor Teaching: General Ecology and Introductory Biology HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Museum of Comparative Zoology 8/91- 6/94: Post-doctoral Fellow; Behavior, ecology, and evolution of fungus-growing ants Advisors: Edward O. Wilson, Naomi Pierce, and Richard Lewontin 9/95 - 1/96: Teaching: Ethology PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 7/89 - 7/91: Research Associate; Ecology and evolution of leaf-cutting ants Advisor: Stephen Hubbell 1/91 - 5/91: Teaching: Tropical Ecology, Introduction to the Scientific Method VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, Department of Psychology 9/88 - 7/89: Post-doctoral Fellow; Visual psychophysics of fish and horseshoe crabs Advisor: Maureen K.
    [Show full text]
  • Seed Ecology and Grassland Resilience: the Case Study of Campo Rupestre
    Université d’Avignon et des Pays de Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Vaucluse École doctorale 536 Programa de Pós Graduação em «Sciences et Agrosciences» Biologia Vegetal THESIS presented as a requirement for obtaining a doctorate degree from the Federal University of Minas Gerais and the Avignon Université (Cotutella agreeement) SEED ECOLOGY AND GRASSLAND RESILIENCE: THE CASE STUDY OF CAMPO RUPESTRE ANDRÉ JARDIM ARRUDA Estimated date for thesis defense on 30 August 2019 Grégory MAHY Dr., Professor Reporter Gembloux AgroBio Tech, Université de Liège, Belgique Giselda DURIGAN Dr., Researcher Reporter Instituto Florestal do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil Thierry DUTOIT Dr., Researcher Examiner Avignon Université, France Alessandra FIDELIS Dr., Adjunct Professor, H.D.R. Examiner Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil Tatiana CORNELISSEN Dr., Adjunct Professor, H.D.R. Examiner Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil Jeronimo SANSEVERO Dr., Adjunct Professor, H.D.R. Examiner Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Elise BUISSON Dr., Adjunct Professor, H.D.R. Co-advisor Avignon Université, France Dr., Professor Advisor Fernando SILVEIRA Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil This thesis was prepared at the Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Écologie and at the Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Tropical Plant I ANDRÉ JARDIM ARRUDA SEED ECOLOGY AND GRASSLAND RESILIENCE: THE CASE STUDY OF CAMPO RUPESTRE Tese apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal do Departamento de Botânica do Instituto
    [Show full text]
  • Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
    SYSTEMATICS Phylogenetic Analysis of Aphaenogaster Supports the Resurrection of Novomessor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 1 B. B. DEMARCO AND A. I. COGNATO Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, 288 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 108(2): 201–210 (2015); DOI: 10.1093/aesa/sau013 ABSTRACT The ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr is an ecologically diverse group that is common throughout much of North America. Aphaenogaster has a complicated taxonomic history due to variabil- ity of taxonomic characters. Novomessor Emery was previously synonymized with Aphaenogaster, which was justified by the partial mesonotal suture observed in Aphaenogaster ensifera Forel. Previous studies using Bayesian phylogenies with molecular data suggest Aphaenogaster is polyphyletic. Convergent evolution and retention of ancestral similarities are two major factors contributing to nonmonophyly of Aphaenogaster. Based on 42 multistate morphological characters and five genes, we found Novomessor more closely related to Veromessor Forel and that this clade is sister to Aphaenogaster. Our results confirm the validity of Novomessor stat. r. as a separate genus, and it is resurrected based on the combi- nation of new DNA, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data. KEY WORDS Aphaenogaster, Novomessor, phylogenetics, resurrection Introduction phylogenetic analyses resolved Aphaenogaster as polyphyletic, including Messor Forel, 1890 and Sten- The ant genus Aphaenogaster Mayr, 1853 is a speciose amma (Brady et al. 2006, Moreau and Bell 2013). group,whichhasnotbeentaxonomicallyreviewedin Ward (2011) suggested that convergent evolution and over 60 years (Creighton 1950). Aphaenogaster con- retention of ancestral similarities were two major fac- tains 227 worldwide species (Bolton 2006), with 23 tors contributing to polyphyly of Aphaenogaster. valid North American species reduced from 31 original Aphaenogaster taxonomy was further complicated species descriptions.
    [Show full text]
  • IS-292 Settlement
    Insectes soc. 44 (1997) 323 – 336 0020-1812/97/040323-14 $ 1.50+0.20/0 © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel, 1997 Insectes Sociaux Research article Settlement and distribution of colony-founding queens of the arboreal ant, Crematogaster ashmeadi, in a longleaf pine forest D. A. Hahn 1 and W. R. Tschinkel * Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-3050, USA, e-mail: [email protected] 1 Current address: Interdisciplinary Program in Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Key words: Ecology, life history, Formicidae, Picioides borealis, red-cockaded woodpecker. Abstract Crematogaster ashmeadi is the dominant arboreal ant occurring on longleaf pines in the Apalachi- cola National Forest of northern Florida. Newly-mated C. ashmeadi queens preferentially founded colonies in abandoned beetle galleries in the dead branches of longleaf pine saplings. There was a positive association between the frequency of queens in trees, several size-related tree character- istics and the amount of insect boring activity in dead branches. The dispersion of newly-mated queens among trees was clumped, suggesting that these queens selected founding sites according to their suitability for colony founding, and that these favorable characteristics were clumped among saplings. The occurrence of founding nests was not related to the prior presence of other ants on the tree. Survival of incipient colonies during the first year was low (7.6%), and their dispersion was not different from random. One possible explanation for this change in dispersion over the year is aggressive interference competition between incipient colonies, although random mortality cannot be discounted. Overall, the distribution of young C.
    [Show full text]
  • I. Studies of Volatile Compounds from Ants Ii
    I. STUDIES OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS FROM ANTS II. DEGRADATION STUDIES AND STRUCTURE PROOF OF CIS, CIS~NEPETALACTONE By DONALD JOHN MCGURK :1.J I Bachelor of Science University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska 1962 Submitted to the faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY July~ 1968 OKlAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY LI BRAF-cY JAN ~O 1969 ,. ,t--•f,. , ; ... • ' , , ........, ...., ~ # ~· . I. STUDIES OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS FROM ANTS II. DEGRADATION STUDIES AND STRUCTURE PROOF OF CIS, CIS-NEPETALACTONE Thesis Approved: D t2 ~n Dean of the Graduate College 696365 ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and guidance provided by Dro Eo Jo Eisenbraun during the conduct of this investigationo I wish to thank Dr. W. A. Drew, Dr. Jerry Young, Dr. and Mrs. D. E. Bryan and especially Dr. Ken Vick for the collection, identification, and behavioral testing of ants. Appreciation is extended to Dro George Waller for the use of the mass spectrometer, to Dro Earl Mitchell and Mro Keith Kinneberg for their assistance in taking spectra, and to the National Science Founda­ tion which supported these studies through grant NSF GB-32750 I particularly wish to thank Dr. Pat Flanagan who provided the nmr spectra and assisted in their interpretation and Mrs. Jennifer Frost who assisted in the ant studies. Finally, I extend my deepest thanks to the graduate students at Oklahoma State who encouraged me to start to write this dissertation. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page PART I, STUDIES.OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS FROM ANTS I.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    Behavioral Ecology Symposium ’96: Cushing 165 MYRMECOMORPHY AND MYRMECOPHILY IN SPIDERS: A REVIEW PAULA E. CUSHING The College of Wooster Biology Department 931 College Street Wooster, Ohio 44691 ABSTRACT Myrmecomorphs are arthropods that have evolved a morphological resemblance to ants. Myrmecophiles are arthropods that live in or near ant nests and are considered true symbionts. The literature and natural history information about spider myrme- comorphs and myrmecophiles are reviewed. Myrmecomorphy in spiders is generally considered a type of Batesian mimicry in which spiders are gaining protection from predators through their resemblance to aggressive or unpalatable ants. Selection pressure from spider predators and eggsac parasites may trigger greater integration into ant colonies among myrmecophilic spiders. Key Words: Araneae, symbiont, ant-mimicry, ant-associates RESUMEN Los mirmecomorfos son artrópodos que han evolucionado desarrollando una seme- janza morfológica a las hormigas. Los Myrmecófilos son artrópodos que viven dentro o cerca de nidos de hormigas y se consideran verdaderos simbiontes. Ha sido evaluado la literatura e información de historia natural acerca de las arañas mirmecomorfas y mirmecófilas . El myrmecomorfismo en las arañas es generalmente considerado un tipo de mimetismo Batesiano en el cual las arañas están protegiéndose de sus depre- dadores a través de su semejanza con hormigas agresivas o no apetecibles. La presión de selección de los depredadores de arañas y de parásitos de su saco ovopositor pueden inducir una mayor integración de las arañas mirmecófílas hacia las colonias de hor- migas. Myrmecomorphs and myrmecophiles are arthropods that have evolved some level of association with ants. Myrmecomorphs were originally referred to as myrmecoids by Donisthorpe (1927) and are defined as arthropods that mimic ants morphologically and/or behaviorally.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial and Temporal Occurrence of Beet Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Moths in Mississippi
    Armyworm Symposium 2002: Adamczyk et al. 229 SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL OCCURRENCE OF BEET ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) MOTHS IN MISSISSIPPI J. J. ADAMCZYK, JR.1, M. R. WILLIAMS2, J. T. REED2, D. W. HUBBARD1 AND D. D. HARDEE1 1USDA, ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit P.O. Box 346, Stoneville, MS 38776 2Mississippi State University, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Clay Lyle Building, Mississippi State, MS 39762 ABSTRACT Throughout 1994-2000, adult beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) populations were monitored in the delta and hill regions of Mississippi using pheromone traps. Signifi- cant differences in the mean number of moths trapped were found among different geo- graphical areas of the state. A trend was observed where the greatest number of moths was found in the Mississippi Delta, located in the western region of the state. The lowest number of moths was found in the hills located in the eastern region of the state. An annual profile of beet armyworm populations in the western section of the Mississippi Delta also revealed that wide-scale immigration of this pest typically begins at 200 Julian days (mid-July). This date could be used as a benchmark to determine when and if population levels are high enough to have the potential to cause economic damage to crops in the Mississippi Delta. Key Words: Spodoptera, migration, movement RESUMEN A travéz de los años 1994 a 2000, se realizaron un monitoreo de las poblaciones de adultos del gusano trozador de la remolacha, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) en las regiones de la Delta y las colinas del Estado de Mississippi usando trampas de feronomas.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of the Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Arkansas and the Ozark Mountains Joseph O'neill University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses Horticulture 12-2011 A Survey of the Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Arkansas and the Ozark Mountains Joseph O'Neill University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/hortuht Recommended Citation O'Neill, Joseph, "A Survey of the Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Arkansas and the Ozark Mountains" (2011). Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses. 1. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/hortuht/1 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Horticulture at ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. A Survey of the Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Arkansas and the Ozark Mountains An Undergraduate Honors Thesis at the University of Arkansas Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences Honors Program by Joseph C. O’Neill and Dr. Ashley P.G. Dowling December 2011 < > Dr. Curt R. Rom < > Dr. Ashley P.G. Dowling < > Dr. Donn T. Johnson < > Dr. Duane C. Wolf ABSTRACT Ants are among the most abundant animals in most terrestrial ecosystems, yet local fauna are often poorly understood due to a lack of surveys. This study separated and identified ant species from arthropod samples obtained during ongoing projects by the lab of Dr. A.P.G. Dowling, Professor of Entomology at the University of Arkansas. More than 600 ants were prepared, 284 of which were identified to genus and 263 to species.
    [Show full text]