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The effect of the green ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), on insect pests of cashew trees in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

R. K. Peng ,
K. Christian  and
K. Gibb
R. K. Peng*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Northern Territory University, Australia
K. Christian
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Northern Territory University, Australia
K. Gibb
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Northern Territory University, Australia
*
R.K. Peng, Northern Territory University, Darwin NT 0909, Australia.
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Abstract

The influence of green ants, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius), on insect pests of cashew, Anacardium occidentale Linnaeus, in tropical northern Australia was investigated using field surveys and field observations. Oecophylla smaragdina was abundant in the native vegetation of the area, and it was a dominant predator when found in cashew plantations. Oecophylla smaragdina significantly reduced the numbers of the four most important species of insect pests (Helopeltis pernicialis Stonedahl, Malipatil & Houston, Penicillaria jocosatrix (Guenée), Amblypelta lutescens (Distant) and Anigraea ochrobasis Hampson) on cashew trees, and trees with higher numbers of O. smaragdina produced higher quality nuts than trees with fewer numbers of O. smaragdina. Other ant species also reduced pest numbers, but not as much as O. smaragdina. The possibility of using O. smaragdina to control insect pests of cashew in the future is discussed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 85 , Issue 2 , June 1995 , pp. 279 - 284
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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