Journal of Insect Behavior (2011) 24, 307-316

Jun Huang, Yijuan Xu, Ling Zeng, Yongyue Lu and Guangwen Liang (2011)
Changes to the spatial distribution of Ageratum conyzoides (Asterales: Asteraceae) due to red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in China
Journal of Insect Behavior 24 (4), 307-316
Abstract: Solenopsis invicta is an aggressive, destructive and invasive ant. It has a profound impact on the native species in its environment. In this paper, we studied the effect of S. invicta on the invasive weed Ageratum conyzoides in the field. Using grid sampling and geostatistical analysis, we found that the density of A. conyzoides increased significantly in the presence of S. invicta. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of A. conyzoides was affected by S. invicta. The spatial structure of A. conyzoides emergence was aggregated. Sites where S. invicta was present were described by a Gaussian model, whereas a spatial model was used to describe the sites in the absence of S. invicta. The range of spatial dependence was 7.07 m for sites with a high density of S. invicta, whereas the spatial dependence was 1.46 m for sites with a low density of S. invicta and 3.14 m for control sites. Semivariogram models based on grid sampling of actual emerging A. conyzoides densities were used to produce contour maps of A. conyzoides densities in the field.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Ling Zeng, Yijuan Xu

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.
	Solenopsis invicta
	Ageratum conyzoides (weed)