Florida Entomologist (2015) 98, 157-161

Thomas Chouvenc, Aaron J. Mullins and Nan-Yao Su (2015)
Territorial status-quo between the big-headed ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Florida Entomologist 98 (1), 157-161
Abstract: The big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabr.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) are 2 invasive species in south Florida, and both have a major economic and ecological impact. Because both species are often associated with man-made structures, we investigated how the 2 species interacted when their tunneling system connected, to determine if the big-headed ant had the ability to predate or displace subterranean termite colonies. It was previously suggested that the 2 species had a predator-prey interaction. However in this study we showed that C. formosanus can defend its territory against P. megacephala with minimal loss, and we therefore re-described their interaction as a status quo for habitat competition. It is unlikely that a competitive displacement would take place between C. formosanus and P. megacephala because of their ability to successfully defend their respective nests.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Thomas Chouvenc, Nan-Yao Su, Aaron J. Mullins

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Coptotermes formosanus		U.S.A. (SE)
	Pheidole megacephala		U.S.A. (SE)