Predation on Neonate Larvae of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Florida and Puerto Rico Citrus Groves

Ants are social, and their metabolism should be measured on at least two levels: (i) the individual workers and brood of which the colony is composed and (ii) the colony in its entirety. Whole colony respiration, tempo (size‐free running speed in body lengths per second) and whole colony activity were simultaneously measured for 15 species of ants in four subfamilies, and these data are related to average worker and whole‐colony weight, activity, percentage brood and percentage fat. Across all 15 species, whole colony respiration rate (μL CO2 h−1) is linearly related to whole colony live weight (log–log slope = 1.0). Colonies composed of large workers respire less than colonies composed of an equal live weight of small workers, and colonies with high tempos respire more than lower tempo colonies of equal weight. The tempos and respiration rates of smaller ants tend to be higher, and a higher tempo exacts a cost in higher respiration independent of the effect of small body size. Individual worker respiration (μL CO2 h−1) scales to worker live weight with an exponent of 0.76. Whole colony specific respiration rate (μL CO2 g−1 h−1) is unrelated to colony live weight. The regressions of respiration rates against colony and worker dry weight, lean weight and metabolic weight have similar slopes to those of live weight but different intercepts. Respiration is not related to worker percentage fat, percentage brood or activity. Ant ecology, tempo, body size, polymorphism and colony size are discussed in relation to respiration.

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“…(); (l) Koptur (1992); (m) Richman et al. (); (n) Passera (); (o) Wilson (); (p) McInnis (1994); (q) Tschinkel ().…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiration, worker body size, tempo and activity in whole colonies of ants

2015

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“…Diaprepes abbreviatus adults feed on the foliage of many plant species belonging to at least 30 families (Simpson et al 1996;Adair et al 1998). After mating, the females deposit their eggs between host plant leaves glued together with an adhesive produced by the female (Richman et al 1983). The eggs hatch in 7-10 d and the larvae drop to the surface of the ground and feed on the roots of most host plants (Woodruff 1964;Whitcomb et al 1982).…”

Section: R Esumenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Host Age, Female Parasitoid Age, and Host Plant on Parasitism of Ceratogramma Etiennei (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Amalin

Peña

Duncan

2005

Florida Entomologist

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“…Many species of ants are documented to interfere with biological control programs, both by defending food sources and through intra-guild predation (Cudjoe et al 1993;Stechmann et al 1996;González-Hernández et al 1999;Eubanks et al 2002;Kaplan & Eubanks 2002;Wyckhuys et al 2007). Discussion of predation on weevils from other arthropods is scattered in the literature across a wide variety of ecological systems (Barney et al 1979;Alfaro & Borden 1980;Barney & Armbrust 1980;Richman et al 1983;Barker et al 1989). The best documented impact of arthropod predation on a weevil is the use of red imported fire ants as a control agent for the boll weevil (Sterling 1978;Jones & Sterling 1979;Fillman & Sterling 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%