Fertilisation with dehydrated sewage sludge affects the phytophagous Hemiptera, tending ants and Sternorrhyncha predators on Acacia mangium (Fabaceae)

Abstract

Macro-and micronutrients from dehydrated sewage sludge are important for the development of plants such as Acacia mangium in processes for recovering degraded areas. The abundance, diversity and species richness of phytophagous Hemiptera, tending ants and Sternorrhyncha predators on A. mangium plants fertilised with dehydrated sewage sludge in a degraded area, compared to trees which did not receive this fertiliser, were evaluated. The experiment was completely randomised, with two treatments (either with or without dehydrated sewage sludge) and 24 replications. The abundance of phytophagous Hemiptera and tending ants was higher on plants fertilised with dehydrated sewage sludge and was similar between the two treatments for Sternorrhyncha predators. The diversity and richness of tending ant species were lower and higher in the treatments with or without dehydrated sewage sludge, respectively. Aethalion reticulatum and Quesada gigas Olivier were more abundant on fertilised plants, Acrogonia sp. was more abundant on nonfertilised ones, and other sucking insects were similar between the two treatments. The abundance of Brachymyrmex sp., Cephalotes sp., Pseudomyrmex termitarius and Syrphus sp. was higher on A. mangium plants which had been fertilised with dehydrated sewage sludge, and that of Cycloneda sanguinea was higher on nonfertilised plants. Membracis sp., Phenacoccus sp. and Q. gigas showed higher abundance as the total number of A. mangium leaves increased. Aleyrodidae abundance increased with Brachymyrmex sp., while Chrysoperla sp. reduced that of Aleyrodidae and Phenacoccus sp. The larger plant crown of A. mangium fertilised with dehydrated sewage sludge explains the greater abundance of phytophagous Hemiptera and tending ants and indicates its potential for recovering degraded areas.