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Elizalde L, Guillade A, Folgarait PJ. No evidence of strong host resource segregation by phorid parasitoids of leaf-cutting ants. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Parmentier T, De Laender F, Wenseleers T, Bonte D. Contrasting indirect effects of an ant host on prey-predator interactions of symbiotic arthropods. Oecologia 2018; 188:1145-1153. [PMID: 30357527 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Indirect interactions occur when a species affects another species by altering the density (density-mediated interactions) or influencing traits (trait-mediated interactions) of a third species. We studied variation in these two types of indirect interactions in a network of red wood ants and symbiotic arthropods living in their nests. We tested whether the ant workers indirectly affected survival of a symbiotic prey species (Cyphoderus albinus) by changing the density and/or traits of three symbiotic predators, i.e., Mastigusa arietina, Thyreosthenius biovatus and Stenus aterrimus, provoking, respectively, low, medium and high ant aggression. An ant nest is highly heterogeneous in ant worker density and the number of aggressive interactions towards symbionts increases with worker density. We, therefore, hypothesized that varying ant density could indirectly impact prey-predator interactions of the associated symbiont community. Ants caused trait-mediated indirect effects in all three prey-predator interactions, by affecting the prey capture rate of the symbiotic predators at different worker densities. Prey capture rate of the highly and moderately aggressed spider predators M. arietina and T. biovatus decreased with ant density, whereas the prey capture rate of the weakly aggressed beetle predator S. aterrimus increased. Ants also induced density-mediated indirect interactions as high worker densities decreased the survival rate of the two predatory spider species. These results demonstrate for the first time that a host can indirectly mediate the trophic interactions between associated symbionts. In addition, we show that a single host can induce opposing indirect effects depending on its degree of aggression towards the symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Parmentier
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. .,Laboratory of Socioecology and Socioevolution, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. .,Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Namur Institute of Complex Systems, and Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium.
| | - F De Laender
- Research Unit of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Namur Institute of Complex Systems, and Institute of Life, Earth, and the Environment, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, 5000, Namur, Belgium
| | - T Wenseleers
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Socioevolution, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - D Bonte
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Chen L, Fadamiro HY. Pseudacteon Phorid Flies: Host Specificity and Impacts on Solenopsis Fire Ants. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 63:47-67. [PMID: 28938082 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Human commerce has resulted in the spread of the imported fire ants, Solenopsis species, worldwide. Six species of parasitic Pseudacteon phorid flies that are highly host specific to the Solenopsis saevissima complex of Solenopsis fire ants have been successfully released in the southern United States. The presence of Pseudacteon phorid flies, in addition to having direct mortality effects on their host ants, modifies foraging behavior and disrupts interspecific competition between host species and other ant species in the community. Fire ant workers have evolved effective methods to cope with parasitism pressure, which may relieve population-level impacts of introduced phorid flies. This review focuses on the mechanisms underlying host location, host preference, and host-size selection of Pseudacteon phorid flies and highlights their direct and indirect effects on fire ant populations. Knowledge gained from parasitoid-ant interactions will enhance use of natural enemies as biological control agents for invasive social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China;
| | - Henry Y Fadamiro
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849;
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Abstract
The displacement of a species from a habitat by actions of another is the most severe outcome of interspecific interactions. This review focuses on recent developments in the understanding of (a) ecological mechanisms that lead to displacements, (b) how outcomes of interspecific interactions are affected by the context of where and when they occur, and (c) impacts of displacements. Displacements are likely to escalate as their primary initiating factors-the spread of non-native species and environmental change-continue at unprecedented rates. Displacements typically result from interactions of multiple mechanisms, not all of which involve direct competition. Various biotic and abiotic factors mediate these mechanisms, so variable outcomes occur when the same species interact in different environments. Though replacement of one species by another has particular relevance to pest management and conservation biology, the cascading effects that displacements have in managed and natural systems are critical to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Disease and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China;
| | - Stuart R Reitz
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Malheur County Extension, Oregon State University, Ontario, Oregon 97914;
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Big data from tiny flies: patterns revealed from over 42,000 phorid flies (Insecta: Diptera: Phoridae) collected over one year in Los Angeles, California, USA. Urban Ecosyst 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-016-0612-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Stireman JO. Community ecology of the 'other' parasitoids. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2016; 14:87-93. [PMID: 27436652 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The study of parasitoid communities is an active and dynamic field. Most studies, however, are focused primarily on parasitic wasps, despite the thousands of other insect parasitoids distributed across many lineages. Although questions in parasitoid community ecology are much the same for different groups, answers to these questions may not be due to differing biological traits. The ecology of non-hymenopteran ('NH') parasitoid communities is poorly known, but recent work indicates that habitat and host traits have strong impacts on the size and composition of these parasitoid assemblages. Recent food-web analyses indicate that host ranges vary widely within and among taxa and associations are shaped by host ecology and defenses. Evidence is also accumulating for strong 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' multi-trophic interactions between NH-parasitoids and nonadjacent trophic levels, as well as trait-mediated indirect effects on communities. Recent technical and conceptual advances in characterizing and comparing food webs, consideration of phylogenetic history, and increasing anthropogenic impacts provide many new and stimulating areas of research on parasitoid communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- John O Stireman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA.
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Reed JJ, Puckett RT, Gold RE. Induced Effects on Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Forager Size Ratios by Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae): Implications on Bait Size Selection. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 44:1407-1416. [PMID: 26314020 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvv118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, are adversely affected by phorid flies in the genus Pseudacteon by instigating defensive behaviors in their hosts, and in turn reducing the efficiency of S. invicta foraging. Multiple Pseudacteon species have been released in Texas, and research has been focused on the establishment and spread of these introduced biological control agents. Field experiments were conducted to determine bait particle size selection of S. invicta when exposed to phorid populations. Four different particle sizes of two candidate baits were offered to foragers (one provided by a pesticide manufacturer, and a laboratory-created bait). Foragers selectively were attracted to, and removed more 1-1.4-mm particles than any other bait size. The industry-provided bait is primarily made of particles in the 1.4-2.0 mm size, larger than what was selected by the ants in this study. While there was a preference for foragers to be attracted to and rest on the industry-provided blank bait, S. invicta removed more of the laboratory-created bait from the test vials. There was an abundance of workers with head widths ranging from 0.5-0.75 mm collected from baits. This was dissimilar from a previous study wherein phorid flies were not active and in which large workers were collected in higher abundance at the site. This implies that phorid fly activity caused a shift for red imported fire ant colonies to have fewer large foragers.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Reed
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2143 TAMU, College Station, TX 77845.
| | - R T Puckett
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2143 TAMU, College Station, TX 77845
| | - R E Gold
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2143 TAMU, College Station, TX 77845
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Puckett RT, Calixto AA, Reed JJ, McDonald DL, Drees BB, Gold RE. Effectiveness comparison of multiple sticky-trap configurations for sampling Pseudacteon spp. phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae). ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2013; 42:763-769. [PMID: 23905740 DOI: 10.1603/en13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A variety of traps have been developed for monitoring introduced populations of Pseudacteon spp. phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) across their established range in the United States. Such traps typically exploit common aspects of phorid fly biology and behavior, such as their attraction to live or dead red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), as well as the perching behavior of these parasitoids. However, populations of multiple species of phorid flies have been established in the United States to serve as biological control agents against S. invicta, and it is unclear if all trap designs are equally effective in sampling this variety of phorid species. This study investigated the effectiveness of six trap designs simultaneously during three sampling events in south-central Texas. Interactions between two species of phorid flies (Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier and P. curvatus B.) and their hosts have been intensively studied at this location for over eight years. When analyzed independently, there were no significant differences in the mean number of P. curvatus or P. tricuspis phorids collected by any of the trap designs during any of the sampling events. However, when the total number of phorids collected were combined, significant trap performance differentials were observed during the October 2010 sampling event. Furthermore, there were significant differences among male flies during the September 2012 observation. Additionally, a trap component cost comparison is provided. The consistent and relatively equivalent performance of the phorid traps investigated in these trials suggests that all are appropriate for phorid surveillance, and cost and ease-of-use considerations may be the most important criteria when selecting a trap design.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Puckett
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2143 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2143, USA.
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Chirino MG, Folgarait PJ, Gilbert LE. Pseudacteon tricuspis: its behavior and development according to the social form of its host and the role of interference competition among females. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2012; 105:386-394. [PMID: 22606808 DOI: 10.1603/ec09170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We studied how the behavior and performance of Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier varies with the social form of its host Solenopsis invicta Buren, in its native range in Argentina where monogyne colonies are more abundant than polygynes (approximately 75 vs. 25%). Female, P. tricuspis took 44% less time (50 vs. 89 s) to attack monogyne than polygyne ants, but oviposition attempts were similar (23 vs. 18 attacks). The presence of the parasitoid affected the average size of foragers on the trail, with the proportion of minor workers increasing on both social forms. In the laboratory, P. tricuspis selected similar host sizes, although pupal survival was 25% higher on monogynes than on polygynes. Developmental times of both genders were similar (33-35 d), although larger females emerged from bigger hosts. The sex ratio of P. tricuspis was more male biased when exploiting polygyne ants. Intraspecific competition significantly affected parasitoid reproductive success, being significantly higher for a solitary female than when three females were present, although the size of workers selected did not vary. The male:female ratio also changed, being 1:1 without competition but 2:1 with competition. We demonstrated for the first time the consequences of interference competition among P. tricuspis females, a common behavior observed in others parasitoids. We discuss why P. tricuspis sex ratios are always biased toward males in both social forms and suggest that similar studies of interference competition within and between already naturalized Pseudacteon species in the United States could help predict establishment patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica G Chirino
- Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal (B1876BXD), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Callcott AMA, Porter SD, Weeks RD, “Fudd” Graham LC, Johnson SJ, Gilbert LE. Fire ant decapitating fly cooperative release programs (1994-2008): two Pseudacteon species, P. tricuspis and P. curvatus, rapidly expand across imported fire ant populations in the southeastern United States. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2011; 11:19. [PMID: 21526930 PMCID: PMC3281391 DOI: 10.1673/031.011.0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Accepted: 04/15/2010] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Natural enemies of the imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren S. richteri Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and their hybrid, include a suite of more than 20 fire ant decapitating phorid flies from South America in the genus Pseudacteon. Over the past 12 years, many researchers and associates have cooperated in introducing several species as classical or self-sustaining biological control agents in the United States. As a result, two species of flies, Pseudacteon tricuspis Borgmeier and P. curvatus Borgmeier (Diptera: Phoridae), are well established across large areas of the southeastern United States. Whereas many researchers have published local and state information about the establishment and spread of these flies, here distribution data from both published and unpublished sources has been compiled for the entire United States with the goal of presenting confirmed and probable distributions as of the fall of 2008. Documented rates of expansion were also used to predict the distribution of these flies three years later in the fall of 2011. In the fall of 2008, eleven years after the first successful release, we estimate that P. tricuspis covered about 50% of the fire ant quarantined area and that it will occur in almost 65% of the quarantine area by 2011. Complete coverage of the fire ant quarantined area will be delayed or limited by this species' slow rate of spread and frequent failure to establish in more northerly portions of the fire ant range and also, perhaps, by its preference for red imported fire ants (S. invicta). Eight years after the first successful release of P. curvatus, two biotypes of this species (one biotype occurring predominantly in the black and hybrid imported fire ants and the other occurring in red imported fire ants) covered almost 60% of the fire ant quarantined area. We estimate these two biotypes will cover almost 90% of the quarantine area by 2011 and 100% by 2012 or 2013. Strategic selection of several distributional gaps for future releases will accelerate complete coverage of quarantine areas. However, some gaps may be best used for the release of additional species of decapitating flies because establishment rates may be higher in areas without competing species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie A. Callcott
- USDA, APHIS, PPQ, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, Gulfport Laboratory, 3505 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501
| | - Sanford D. Porter
- Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA-ARS, 1600 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608
| | - Ronald D. Weeks
- USDA, APHIS, PPQ, Eastern Region Office, 920 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606-5213
| | - L. C. “Fudd” Graham
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, 301 Funchess Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5413
| | - Seth J. Johnson
- Department of Entomology, 400 Life Sciences Building, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
| | - Lawrence E. Gilbert
- Brackenridge Field Laboratory and Section of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712
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Puckett RT, Harris MK. Phorid flies, Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae), affect forager size ratios of red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Texas. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2010; 39:1593-1600. [PMID: 22546457 DOI: 10.1603/en09189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Multiple species of Pseudacteon phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are currently being released throughout the southern United States to aid biological control of red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). It is anticipated that these flies will interfere with S. invicta foraging, allowing native ant assemblages to outcompete S. invicta for available resources. Numerous studies have shown a decrease in S. invicta foraging intensity when exposed to phorids. This study documents a behavioral change in phorid-exposed S. invicta colonies at a phorid release site in central Texas. Significant differences in forager size ratios were detected between phorid-exposed and phorid-absent colonies. A similar phenomenon was recently documented in the native range of these insects in South America as well. Experimental manipulation of ratios of S. invicta worker sizes has been shown to have important effects on colony success. This newly documented phorid-mediated S. invicta colony-level effect represents a significant shift in S. invicta foraging dynamics and may provide an additional mechanism by which phorids can influence S. invicta populations in their United States range.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Puckett
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2143 TAMU, College Station, TX 77845, USA.
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