Journal of Economic Entomology (2017) 110, 1133-1137

F.M. Anato, A.A.C. Sinzogan, J. Offenberg, A. Adandonon, R.B. Wargui, J.M. Deguenon, P.M. Ayelo, J.-F. Vayssières and D.K. Kossou (2017)
Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) lead to increased cashew kernel size and kernel quality
Journal of Economic Entomology 110 (3), 1133-1137
Abstract: Weaver ants, Oecophylla spp., are known to positively affect cashew, Anacardium occidentale L., raw nut yield, but their effects on the kernels have not been reported. We compared nut size and the proportion of marketable kernels between raw nuts collected from trees with and without ants. Raw nuts collected from trees with weaver ants were 2.9% larger than nuts from control trees (i.e., without weaver ants), leading to 14% higher proportion of marketable kernels. On trees with ants, the kernel: raw nut ratio from nuts damaged by formic acid was 4.8% lower compared with nondamaged nuts from the same trees. Weaver ants provided three benefits to cashew production by increasing yields, yielding larger nuts, and by producing greater proportions of marketable kernel mass.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Appolinaire Adandonon, Antonio A.C. Sinzogan, Joachim Offenberg

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Oecophylla longinoda (predator)