Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (2009) 53, 461-465
Fábio Souto Almeida and Jarbas Marçal Queiroz (2009)
Efeito da estrutura de habitat sobre a abundância de parasitóides Pseudacteon Coquillett (Diptera, Phoridae) em ninhos de Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
[Influence of habitat structure on the abundance of the parasitoids Pseudacteon Coquillett (Diptera, Phoridae) on mounds of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)]
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 53 (3), 461-465
Abstract: The influence of habitat characteristics on the abundance of the parasitoids Pseudacteon Coquillett (Diptera, Phoridae) of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) was studied in organic polyculture agroecosystem in southeastern of Brazil. Parasitoids were collected during 30 minutes after fire ant colonies perturbation in plots with annual or perennial crops. A total of 228 parasitoids belonging to four species were obtained in 61.90% of the 84 fire ant colonies disturbed. Pseudacteon obtusus Borgmeier was the most abundant species (70 females), followed by Pseudacteon litoralis Borgmeier (37 females), Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier (23 females) and Pseudacteon solenopsidis Schmitz (1 female). Pseudacteon litoralis was more frequent on fire ant mounds in plots with perennial crops than annual crops whereas P. obtusus and P. tricuspis had an opposed pattern. Negative significant correlation was found between air temperature and P. litoralis and P. obtusus abundances. Fire ant mound size and parasitoid abundance were positively correlated. Considering that phorids are important natural enemies of S. invicta, this study provides information for the management of fire ants in tropical polyculture agroecosystem.
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(original language: Portuguese)
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
surveys/distribution/isolation
