Foraging behavior of fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Felis catus Linnaeus (Carnivora, Felidae) carcass

Maciel, Tatiane Tagliatti; Castro, Mariana Monteiro de; Barbosa, Bruno Corrêa; Fernandes, Elisa Furtado; Santos-Prezoto, Helba Helena; Prezoto, Fábio

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v62i4.736

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…on the process of cadaveric decomposition. Most studies conclude that these ants alter insect succession patterns and decomposition processes, but do not indicate specifically how these factors are altered (Zara & Caetano, 2010;Andrade-Silva et al 2015;Maciel et al 2015). Here, we analyzed qualitative effects of Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) presence on decomposition rates of domestic pig (Sus scrofa L.) carcasses.…”

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confidence: 99%

Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Activity Delays Vertebrate Carcass Decomposition

et al. 2017

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Ants are among the insects involved in cadaveric decomposition processes, as they exhibit predatory and necrophagous behavior. Red ants exhibit an aggressive behavior, which impacts carcass colonization, accelerates or delays the decomposition rates and potentially confounds interpretation of the post-mortem interval. Here, we estimated the effects of Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) activity on the decomposition rate in domestic pig carcasses. We placed two pig carcasses close to S. saevissima nests, and two other pig carcasses (controls) in other locations 50 m away from the nest. Decomposition processes were delayed by at least three days for carcasses on the nest compared to those without direct exposure to ants. Our results showed that predatory activity of S. saevissima interfered with carcass colonization by scavenger insects, functioning as an ecological barrier to the establishment of immature Diptera. Such results highlight the importance of considering ecological processes that may interfere with mechanisms determining post-mortem intervals.

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Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Activity Delays Vertebrate Carcass Decomposition

et al. 2017

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“…Also, clay may have more biological functions for termites besides creating a moist environment and preventing termites from desiccation. For example, many social insects cover/fill food sources with various materials (e.g., soil particles) to block competitors and predators (e.g., Maciel et al, 2015 ; Mendonça, Santos-Prezoto & Prezoto, 2019 ; Qin et al, 2019 ). Chouvenc, Mullins & Su (2015) reported that when C. formosanus encountered its predator, the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabr.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Jin

Chen

Wen

et al. 2020

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Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, usually transport clay materials into tree hollows and bait stations. Our previous research showed that C. formosanus preferred to aggregate in the locations containing field-collected clay samples, but it was not clear whether this preference was influenced by clay types and/or moisture. In the present study, we conducted multiple-choice tests under low-moisture (25% moisture) or moderate-moisture (50% moisture) conditions to evaluate the aggregation and wood-feeding preferences of C. formosanus responding to hollow wooden cylinders (simulation of tree hollows) or baiting containers (simulation of bait stations) filled with different clay materials (bentonite , kaolin, chlorite, illite, or attapulgite), soil, or unfilled. Under low-moisture conditions, the majority of termites were found in the wooden cylinders or baiting containers filled with bentonite. Under moderate-moisture conditions, however, termites preferred to aggregate in wooden cylinders filled with chlorite or attapulgite; the percentages of termites that stayed in baiting containers filled with chlorite, attapulgite or soil were similar, which were significantly higher than those that filled with kaolin, illite, or unfilled. We then conducted no-choice tests to study the effect of clay materials on termites. Under low-moisture conditions, clay filled in the baiting containers significantly increased survivorship and body water percentage (an indicator of termite vigor) of termites, whereas no similar effect was detected under moderate-moisture conditions. This study demonstrated that both clay type and moisture affect termites’ preference.

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“…Despite of the recent increase of forensic entomology studies in Brazil (Moretti et al, 2008;Moretti et al, 2011;Barbosa et al, 2015;Maciel et al, 2015), there is no effective understanding of ecological interaction related to social wasps within the scavenger community yet. Therefore, wasps foraging on forensic-important insects such as the Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae families could influence on the abundance and diversity of these families' species and, as a result, lead to an underestimation of the postmortem interval.…”

Section: Short Note 1 -Universidade Federal De Santa Maria Rio Grandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polybia (Myrapetra) scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging on flies at carcasses of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae)

Herdina¹,

Bitencourt²,

Mare³

et al. 2016

Sociobiology

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Social wasps stand out due to their role in the trophic balance of the ecosystems. These insects can get nutrients by preying on other insects, such as Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and the decomposing remains of vertebrates. Some species, such as Polybia scutellaris, can also use pollen and nectar stored in their nests to produce honey. Some studies lay emphasis on the prey captured by social wasps, showing that predation, in some conditions, is directed to Lepidoptera larvae, such as for Polybia occidentalis, Polybia paulista and Polybia ignobilis. Other species like P. scutellaris focus on flies of the Tabanidae, Syrphidae, Muscidae and Anthomyiidae families. There are few studies with social wasps that feed on animal carcasses; this way, our study aims to report the predation on individuals of the Sarcophagidae family, which use Rattus norvegicus carcasses as a food source, by the social wasp Polybia scutellari

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Foraging behavior of fire ant Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Felis catus Linnaeus (Carnivora, Felidae) carcass

Cited by 13 publications

References 7 publications

Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Activity Delays Vertebrate Carcass Decomposition

Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Activity Delays Vertebrate Carcass Decomposition

Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Polybia (Myrapetra) scutellaris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) foraging on flies at carcasses of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae)

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