Observations on the Ecology of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius) in a Thai Mangrove Ecosystem and Their Effect on Herbivory of Rhizophora mucronata Lam.1

Offenberg, Joachim; Havanon, Sopon; Aksornkoae, Sanit; Macintosh, D. J.; Nielsen, Mogens Gissel

doi:10.1646/03158

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 39 publications

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“…Lim's model gave a direct insight into the weaver ants' population (Lim, 2007). However, the result was contradictory with other indirect estimation methods such as the nest counts explicitly fitting a linear regression model of the worker ant number against the nest size of O. smaragdina on mango trees (Offenberg et al, 2004), counts of ant trails on tree stems or branches Christian 2005a, b, 2006) and ant counts on plant parts (Blüthgen and Fiedler, 2002). Verghese et al (2013) fitted linear and non-linear regression models of the worker ant number on the nest size by establishing a correlation with the number of leaves of O. smaragdina nests on guava trees.…”

Section: Reiteratedmentioning

confidence: 76%

Estimation of worker population size-density by nest counting in the Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae: Formicinae) and its dynamic in oil palm plantations industry

Exélis

Ramli

AZARAE

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Oecophylla smaragdina, arboreal ants in nature, is of economic interest in the Asian tropics for its potential as a low-cost biological control agent in commercial crops (cashew-nuts and recently oil palm trees). Population density-dynamics is fundamental in the study of control agents. In ants, such empirical data are scarce, considering their underground life where excavation destroys the colonies. Moreover, in the course of estimating the worker relative population size and density in a fixed area by nests counting, a population of O. smaragdina was investigated in oil palm plantations, to implement integrated pest management for controlling dominant bagworm defoliators. To minimize the estimation bias caused by the difference in nest characteristics, we analyzed the correlation of those variables to the nest contents. The models of the nest counting method found that the number of nests, the mean of total workers, and the number of trees (correlated with the occupied area) became the most significant variables in estimating the population density. No external nest characteristics was statistically significantly correlated with the number of workers. Hence, the total average worker number per nest, 6333+2907SE (52 undamaged nests, average mean total major-minor: 6332.55) multiplied by the total nest count is appropriate to estimate the relative population size and density of workers (over few million per colony in a fixed occupied area). Four absolute population-wide estimation of the worker density in four plantations was ensued. This study demonstrated the population dynamic stability of O. smaragdina with sufficient numerical resident ants by a long-term monitoring of the occurrence of incipient colonies. Controlling Metisa plana by such IPM might minimize the usage of broad-spectrum long-range contact life cycle disruptive chemicals on natural enemies’ balance in agro-ecosystems.

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Section: Reiteratedmentioning

confidence: 76%

Estimation of worker population size-density by nest counting in the Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae: Formicinae) and its dynamic in oil palm plantations industry

Exélis

Ramli

AZARAE

et al. 2022

Preprint

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DNA barcoding reveals insect diversity in the mangrove ecosystems of Hainan Island, China

Liu

Guo

Zhong

et al. 2018

Genome

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Insect diversity is an indicator of environmental conditions. Frequent outbreaks of mangrove pests have threatened the fragile mangrove ecosystem in China and the sustainable utilization of mangrove resources. The understanding of mangrove pests, as well as a fundamental knowledge of insect diversity, in mangrove forests in China has been hindered by the difficulty of morphological species delimitation because captured insect specimens are either larvae or incompletely preserved adults. DNA barcoding technology uses only a small amount of DNA to conduct species identification. Taking advantage of this, we investigated the entomofauna of mangrove forests on Hainan Island by using a barcode combining cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome-b (Cytb). We collected 627 specimens at six localities around the island, which were identified as 219 insect species belonging to 11 orders and 72 families. Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera are the most species-rich and abundant taxa. We also identified 13 mangrove pests, 5 parasitoids, and 12 species of predators.

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Observations on the Ecology of Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius) in a Thai Mangrove Ecosystem and Their Effect on Herbivory of Rhizophora mucronata Lam.1

Cited by 2 publications

References 39 publications

Estimation of worker population size-density by nest counting in the Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae: Formicinae) and its dynamic in oil palm plantations industry

Estimation of worker population size-density by nest counting in the Asian weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae: Formicinae) and its dynamic in oil palm plantations industry

DNA barcoding reveals insect diversity in the mangrove ecosystems of Hainan Island, China

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