Distribution Patterns of Imported Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on a Sheep and Goat Farm in Oklahoma

Abstract

Imported fire ant colonies were quantified in 1,000-m(2) circular subplots spaced approximately 125 m apart on a sheep and goat farm in Oklahoma. Social form (percent polygyny), mound density, cumulative above-ground mound volume, and average mound volume were subjected to multiple regression analyses to examine trends related to landscape metrics and habitat characteristics. Monogyne populations were spatially autocorrelated, and polygyne mounds tended to be smaller and more numerous. A model incorporating the effects of percent polygyny, canopy cover, and 1-d cumulative incident solar radiation explained 34% of the variation in mound density. Percent polygyny was not significantly related to cumulative mound volume, which provides a better estimate of overall ant biomass. A model incorporating the effects of 1-d cumulative incident solar radiation on the summer solstice, elevation, canopy cover, distance from cisterns, distance from water, and distance from trees explained 42% of the variation in cumulative mound volume. Monogyne mounds in areas that were flat and close to water in low-lying areas were largest. Results indicate that remotely sensed data in combination with publicly available U.S. Geological Survey data may be useful in predicting areas of high and low fire ant abundance at a field scale.

Fire Ants in Houston Toad Habitat: Annual Activity and Responses to Canopy Cover and Fire

“…The results of this study indicate that disturbance from low-intensity prescribed burning did not affect RIFA abundance around ponds in our study area. This finding is in contrast to other studies reporting that disturbance from livestock use or vegetation clearing can lead to increases in RIFA abundance (Lofgren et al 1975;Stiles and Jones 1998;Todd et al 2008;Vogt et al 2009). In the present study, the number of RIFAs captured at the two summer burn ponds decreased immediately after burning, but it returned to background levels within weeks.…”

“…In primarily forested habitats, RIFA tends to be more abundant in forest gaps (Colby and Prowell 2006). Red imported fire ants are adapted to periodically flooded habitats (Allen et al 1974) and have been found to prefer edges of ponds and other water bodies (Lyle and Fortune 1948;Tschinkel 1988;Stuble et al 2009;Vogt et al 2009). Because RIFA can be more flood tolerant than some native ant species, it may have a competitive advantage over these taxa in flood-prone environments (Vogt et al 2009).…”

“…Red imported fire ants are adapted to periodically flooded habitats (Allen et al 1974) and have been found to prefer edges of ponds and other water bodies (Lyle and Fortune 1948;Tschinkel 1988;Stuble et al 2009;Vogt et al 2009). Because RIFA can be more flood tolerant than some native ant species, it may have a competitive advantage over these taxa in flood-prone environments (Vogt et al 2009). The potential for high RIFA density around ponds is of concern in amphibian management, given the potential vulnerability of juvenile amphibians to RIFA predation when they enter the terrestrial landscape (Freed and Neitman 1988).…”

Alleles and algorithms: The role of genetic analyses and remote sensing technology in an ant eradication program

“…For example, in Brisbane, differences of up to 20-30 °C (average +11.9 °C, n = 1467) have been recorded, making them highly visible with thermal imagery, whereas recorded temperature differences were only up to 10 °C between mounds and their surroundings in Mississippi studies (Vogt et al 2008a). As reported from remote sensing trials in the United States, a range of factors can affect the capture of suitable imagery, including nest location (obscured or in the open), mound shape, weather conditions, time of year and soil type (Vogt 2004a, b;Vogt et al 2008a, b;Vogt et al 2009). Similar findings were made in southeast Queensland and incorporated into operational guidelines.…”

Insects as zoogeomorphic agents: an extended review

“…Higher densities of mounds are reported for North American harvester ants ( Pogonomyrmex spp. : 20–150 nests ha –1 ; MacMahon et al ., 2000) and fire ants ( Solenopsis invicta : 50–220 nests ha –1 ; Vogt et al ., 2009). Exceptionally, the densities of anthills created by Lasius flavus can reach up to 2500 mounds ha –1 in some parts of the Baltic region and the British islands (Elmes, 1991).…”