Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T03:41:45.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ants and subterranean Sternorrhyncha in a native grassland in east-central Alberta, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 September 2012

J.S. Newton ,
J. Glasier ,
H.E.L. Maw ,
H.C. Proctor  and
R.G. Foottit
J.S. Newton*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
J. Glasier
Affiliation:
Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H1
H.E.L. Maw
Affiliation:
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, National Environmental Health Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, K.W. Neatby Building, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
H.C. Proctor
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
R.G. Foottit
Affiliation:
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, National Environmental Health Program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, K.W. Neatby Building, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: [email protected]).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Little is known about the associations of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with subterranean aphids and mealybugs (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae and Pseudococcidae), particularly in Canadian grasslands. Knowledge of host plants for these sternorrhynchans is equally rare. We carried out a plant-based survey of ants and belowground aphids and mealybugs in a native fescue grassland in east-central Alberta, Canada. We found 23 species of ants, 12 of which (species of Lasius F., Myrmica Latreille, Tapinoma Förster, and Temnothorax Mayr) were in association with subterranean sternorrhynchans. Twelve species of aphids and mealybugs were collected; 3 are new records for Canada and 2 are possibly undescribed. Most ant species associated with sternorrhynchans were found with more than one species of sternorrhynchan, sometimes in the same nest. Almost all sternorrhynchans were found on graminoid hosts (Poaceae and Cyperaceae); there was little observed plant-specificity beyond this. There were no significant correlations between presence of subterranean sternorrhynchans and percent cover of different plant types, soil moisture content, slope, aspect, or visible entrances to ant nests.

Résumé

Les associations des fourmis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) et des pucerons et cochenilles (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae et Pseudococcidae) hypogées sont mal connues, particulièrement dans les prairies canadiennes. Il y a de même peu de renseignements sur les plantes hôtes de ces sternorhynches. Nous avons mené un inventaire des fourmis et des pucerons et cochenilles hypogées en fonction des plantes dans une prairie indigène à fétuque dans le centre-est de l'Alberta, Canada. Nous avons trouvé 23 espèces de fourmis, dont 12 (des espèces de Lasius F., Myrmica Latreille, Tapinoma Förster et Temnothorax Mayr) sont associées aux sternorhynches hypogées. Nous avons récolté 12 espèces de pucerons et cochenilles; 3 représentent des nouvelles mentions pour le Canada et 2 sont potentiellement non décrites. La plupart des espèces de fourmis associées aux sternorhynches le sont avec plus d'une espèce de sternorhynches, quelquefois dans le même nid. Presque tous les sternorhynches se retrouvent sur des hôtes graminoïdes (Poaceae et Cyperaceae); il n'y a, par ailleurs, aucune spécificité additionnelle des plantes. Il n'existe aucune corrélation significative entre la présence de sternorhynches hypogées et le pourcentage de couverture des différents types de plantes, le contenu hydrique des sols, la pente, l'aspect général, ni la présence d'orifices visibles de nids de fourmis.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Research Article
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 143 , Issue 5 , September 2011 , pp. 518 - 523
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ben-Dov, Y. 1994. A systematic catalogue of the mealybugs of the world (Insecta: Homoptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae and Putoidae) with data on geographical distribution, host plants, biology and economic importance. Intercept Limited. Andover, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
Ben-Dov, Y. 2010a. ScaleNet, Chnaurococcus trifolii (Forbes) [online]. Available from http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/catalogs/pseudoco/Chnaurococcustrifolii.htm [accessed 20 January 2011].Google Scholar
Ben-Dov, Y. 2010b. ScaleNet, Tridiscus sporoboli (Cockerell) [online]. Available from http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/catalogs/pseudoco/Tridiscussporoboli.htm [accessed 20 January 2011].Google Scholar
Blackman, R.L. Eastop, V.F. 2006. Aphids on the world's herbaceous plants and shrubs. Vol. 1. Host lists and keys. John Wiley and Sons Ltd., Chichester, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
Bolton, B. 1995. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.Google Scholar
Buckley, R.C. 2011. 1987. Interactions involving plants, Homoptera and ants. Annual Review of Ecology. Evolution and Systematics, 18: 111–135.Google Scholar
CAB International. 2011. Phenacoccus solenopsis (cotton mealybug) [online]. Available from http://www.cabi.org/isc/?compid=5&dsid=109097&loadmodule=datasheet&page=481&site=144 [accessed 29 May 2011].Google Scholar
Coupe, M.D. 2003. Effects of insect herbivory in herbaceous communities: coarse- and fine-scale examination. M.Sc. thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.Google Scholar
Delabie, J.H.C. 2001. Trophobiosis between Formicidae and Hemiptera (Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha): an overview. Neotropical Entomology, 30: 501–516.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, B.L. Cover, S.P. 2007. Ants of North America: a guide to the genera. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Foottit, R.G. Richards, W.R. 1993. The genera of the aphids of Canada. The insects and arachnids of Canada. Part 22. Publication No. 1885, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.Google Scholar
Glasier, J. 2011. Alberta ants [online]. Available from http://www.antweb.org/alberta.jsp [accessed 6 April 2011].Google Scholar
Hölldobler, B. Wilson, E.O. 1990. The ants. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howitt, R.W. 1988. Soil survey of the County of Beaver, Alberta. Alberta Survey Report No. 47, Terrain Sciences Department, Alberta Research Council, Edmonton, Alberta.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. Agosti, D. Delabie, J.H. Dumpert, K. Williams, D.J. Von Tschirnhaus, M. Maschwitz, U. 2001. Acropyga and Azteca ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with scale insects (Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea): 20 million years of intimate symbiosis. American Museum Novitates No. 3335.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kishimoto-Yamada, K. Itioka, T. Kawai, S. 2005. Biological characterization of the obligate symbiosis between Acropyga sauteri Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Eumyrmococcus smithii Silvestri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae: Rhizoecinae) on Okinawa Island, southern Japan. Journal of Natural History, 39: 3501–3524.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kosztarab, M. 1996. Scale insects of northeastern North America: identification, biology and distribution. Virginia Museum of Natural History. Martinsville, Virginia.Google Scholar
Lapolla, J.S. Cover, S.P. Mueller, U.G. 2002. Natural history of the mealybug-tending ant, Acropyga epedana, with descriptions of the male and queen castes. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 128: 367–376.Google Scholar
LaPolla, J.S. Kjer, K.M. Schultz, T.R. Bischoff, J.F. 2006. Phylogenetic position of the ant genus Acropyga Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the evolution of trophophoresy. Insect Systematics and Evolution, 37: 197–212.Google ScholarPubMed
Lubbock, J. 1882. Ants, bees and wasps: a record of observations on the habits of the social Hymenoptera. Kegan Paul, London, United Kingdom.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SPSS Inc. 2008. SPSS® for Windows. Release 17.0.0 [computer program]. SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois.Google Scholar
Stadler, B. Dixon, A.F.G. 2005. Ecology and evolution of aphid-ant interactions. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 36: 345–372.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuart, R.J. Polavarapu, S. 2002. On the relationship between the ant, Acanthomyops claviger, and the blueberry mealybug, Dysmicoccus vaccinii. Journal of Insect Behavior, 15: 299–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Styrsky, J.D. Eubanks, M.D. 2007. Ecological consequences of interactions between ants and honeydew-producing insects. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 274: 151–164.Google ScholarPubMed
Vogel, K.P. Kindler, S.D. 1980. Effects of the subterranean aphid [Geoica utricularia (Passerini)] on forage yield and quality of sand lovegrass. Journal of Range Management, 33: 272–274.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Way, M.J. 1963. Mutualism between ants and honeydew-producing Homoptera. Annual Review of Entomology, 8: 307–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, G.C. Wheeler, J. 1963. The ants of North Dakota. University of North Dakota Press, Grand Forks, North Dakota.Google Scholar