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Apparent facilitation of an invasive mealybug by an invasive ant

Helms, K. ; Vinson, S.

In: Insectes Sociaux, 2003, vol. 50, no. 4, p. 403-404

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    Title
    • Apparent facilitation of an invasive mealybug by an invasive ant
    Author
    • Helms, K.. Institute of Ecology, IE-ZEA, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
    • Vinson, S.. Department of Entomology, Entomology Research Laboratory, Texas A&M University, 77843-2475, College Station, Texas, USA
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:311721
    Summary
    Summary: In the southeast United States, the invasive ant Solenopsis invicta is known to derive important carbohydrate (honeydew) resources from mealybugs utilizing grasses. Most important appears to be an invasive mealybug, Antonina graminis. We studied whether this mealybug and a similar native species also benefit from association with S. invicta. We found that mealybug occurrence increases significantly with increasing proximity to S. invicta mounds, suggesting that mealybugs benefit as well. Mutual benefits derived by S. invicta and A. graminis are consistent with a hypothesis proposing that associations among invasive species can be important in their success at introduced locations