Pheidoleants as potential biological control agents of the boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis(Col., Curculionidae), in Southeast Brazil

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential of ants as natural biological control agents of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis), during the between‐season period, in South‐east Brazil. Active adults of Anthonomus were experimentally distributed on the ground of the cotton field. Results show that 20% of the adult Anthonomus are attacked and removed by foraging ants. The native ant Pheidole oliveirai was by far the most efficient predator, accounting for 94 % of the predation on Anthonomus. Recruited workers of P. oliveirai were usually very fast at transporting the weevils to their nests. The potential benefit of suppressing overwintering adult Anthonomus during the between‐season period is mainly that of reducing the risk of high level infestations during the next cropping cycle.

What is the effect of soil use on ant communities?

“…Many Pheidole species are predators of eggs and immature stages of insects and have been reported as effi cient agents for biological control of pests in several crops (Way & Khoo 1992, Fernandes et al 1994. However, the presence of Solenopsis invicta (Bruen) in agroecosystems has been reported as dubious, because this ant is an important predator of pests, but also has harmful effects on populations of natural enemies of several insect pests (Way & Khoo 1992).…”

“…Thus, studies of ant communities in agroecosystems have contributed to the knowledge of the infl uence of agriculture activities on natural environments (Castro & Queiroz 1987, Lobry de Bruyn 1999, Fernandes et al 2000. Studies of ant communities in agroecosystems have also helped to identify ant species with potential for biological control in several types of crops (Castro & Queiroz 1987, Carroll & Rish 1990, Fernandes et al 1994. Furthermore, several authors consider ants as ecosystem engineers, because ants respond to changes in physical and chemical properties of the soil, increasing its drainage, aeration and nutrient quantity, which contribute to agricultural practices of low ecological impact (Brussaard et al 1997, Folgarait 1998, Lobry de Bruyn 1999.…”

Ant Community in Neotropical Agrosystems: A Four-Year Study in Conventional and No-Tillage Systems

“…According to Hölldobler and Wilson (1990), this group is the largest subfamily of Formicidae in number of species and variety of food and nesting habits, with wide adaptation to disturbed environments. Furthermore, many authors have shown that most Myrmicinae species are aggressive and they have efficient and massive recruitment, being of ten sampled in agrosystems (Castro & Queiroz, 1987;Perfecto, 1991;Lange et al, 2008;Falcão et al,2015).They are considered to be effective agents in the biological control of pests in crops (see Fernandes et al,1994Fernandes et al, , 2012.…”

Between-season attraction of cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults by its aggregation pheromone

“…Many investigations were undertaken to study the population behavior, biological responses and other ecological aspects of this curculionid pest in this new habitat, to establish IPM strategies for its control (Fuchs & England, 1989;Gutierrez et al, 1991;Gabriel et al, 1992;Pierozzi Jr. & Habib, 1992a, 1992b, 1993a, 1993bRamalho & Silva, 1993;Fernandes et al, 1994;Araujo & Azevedo, 1997). Many ecological and behavioral differences were observed among boll weevil populations in their new environment in comparison to other cotton agroecosystems, mainly of the U.S.A. (Pierozzi Jr., 1989).…”

“…Finally, some weevils would survive in old cotton stalks. Some authors consider the possibility that a part of A. grandis population does not accomplish the diapause process (Palmer & Cate 1992;Fernandes et al, 1994).…”