Effect of the Red Imported Fire Ant on Cotton Aphid Population Density and Predation of Bollworm and Beet Armyworm Eggs

Abstract

The effects of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), on cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, populations and its predation of bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), (both Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs were evaluated in cotton under field conditions during 2001 and 2002 in central and northern Texas. In central Texas, cotton aphid populations were approximately 5.5 times greater and predation of sentinel bollworm eggs 2 times greater in the presence of S. invicta versus in its absence, although aphid populations did not reach economic levels. Most predation of beet armyworm egg masses, measured via direct nocturnal observations, was due to S. invicta (68%) and cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) (21%), where S. invicta was present, and by the mite Abrolophus sp. (52%), spiders (13%), and minute pirate bug (Orius sp.) (13%) where S. invicta was absent. Predation of sentinel bollworm eggs and beet armyworm egg masses was approximately 1.5 and 4.1 times greater, respectively, in the presence of S. invicta versus in their absence. In the presence of S. invicta, the relative frequencies of minute pirate bug and cotton fleahopper were higher, and of S. invicta and native ants lower in beat bucket samples compared with their relative frequencies in nocturnal observations of predation upon beet armyworm egg masses. In the absence of S. invicta seven of eight predators sampled were similarly represented in beat bucket samples and nocturnal observations of beet armyworm egg mass predation, whereas minute pirate bug occurred at a higher frequency in beat bucket samples relative to nocturnal observations. These observations suggested that the relative frequencies of minute pirate bug, cotton fleahopper, S. invicta and native ants in beat bucket samples do not closely reflect the frequency with which these predators prey on noctuid eggs. Overall, the results of this study show that although S. invicta may promote aphid populations early in the growing season, it is an important predator of bollworm and beet armyworm eggs later in the season.

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

“…Our results agree with prior work showing that fire ants make a substantial contribution to predation within crop canopies (Sterling et al , ; Diaz et al , ; Seagraves & McPherson, ; Butler et al , ; Tillman, ; Greenstone et al , ), and further demonstrate that they are also significant predators at the soil surface. In fact, between sites and across dates, fire ants made greater contributions to predation at the soil surface than within cotton foliage with the same prey type.…”

“…The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is an opportunistic predator in agricultural systems, where it can directly increase predation by 20–30%, but can also decrease the abundance of many beneficial predators including lady beetles, lacewings, predatory hemipterans and spiders (Eubanks et al , ; Diaz et al , ). Red imported fire ants can contribute substantially to egg predation in crop foliage, and have been observed feeding on eggs of a variety of agriculturally important lepidopteran pests, including Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) and Heliothis virescens (Fabr.)…”

“…Red imported fire ants can contribute substantially to egg predation in crop foliage, and have been observed feeding on eggs of a variety of agriculturally important lepidopteran pests, including Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) and Heliothis virescens (Fabr.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (McDaniel & Sterling, , ; Nuessly & Sterling, ; Diaz et al , ; Seagraves & McPherson, ).…”

Arthropod prey of imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Mississippi sweetpotato fields

“…There are documented studies of fire ant feeding on rednecked peanutworm Stegasta bosqueella (Chambers), sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius), beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Linnaeus), soybean looper Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), fall armyworm caterpillars Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), boll weevil Anthonomus grandis (Boheman) and cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover (Sterling, ; Reagan, ; Nyffeler et al ., ; Fuller et al ., ; Vogt et al ., ; Diaz et al ., ). Some pests of medical importance fed upon by fire ants include lone star tick Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus), horn fly Haematobia irritans (Linnaeus), and the mosquito species Psorophora columbiae (Dyar & Knab) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Burnham et al ., ; Hu & Frank, ).…”

The Good Side of the Bad Guys: Predation of Lepidopteran Pests by Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Florida Panhandle

“…In Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, the predation potential of agronomic pests by S. invicta in agroecosystems has been reported especially on various stages of lepidopteran pests (Ruberson et al 1994;Diaz et al 2004;Styrsky & Eubanks 2010;Wickings & Ruberson 2016). Foraging individuals on plant canopies of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.; Malvaceae) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.; Fabaceae) have played a role as predators by removing the eggs of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) (Diaz et al 2004;Wickings & Ruberson 2016). A previous report by Diaz et al (2004) also indicated that early in the cotton season, S. invicta populations are attracted to the honeydew produced by aphid populations.…”