Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus
In many agroecosystems, the implementation of an integrated pest management (IPM) program against mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is undermined by the presence of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In a mutualistic association, ants obtain carbohydrates from the mealybugs in the form of honeydew...
| Autores principales: | , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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Elsevier
2021
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| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/7131 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964421000438?via%3Dihub |
| _version_ | 1855492222756061184 |
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| author | Pérez-Rodríguez, Jésica Pekas, Apostolos Tena, Alejandro Wackers, Felix L. |
| author_browse | Pekas, Apostolos Pérez-Rodríguez, Jésica Tena, Alejandro Wackers, Felix L. |
| author_facet | Pérez-Rodríguez, Jésica Pekas, Apostolos Tena, Alejandro Wackers, Felix L. |
| author_sort | Pérez-Rodríguez, Jésica |
| collection | ReDivia |
| description | In many agroecosystems, the implementation of an integrated pest management (IPM) program against mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is undermined by the presence of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In a mutualistic association, ants obtain carbohydrates from the mealybugs in the form of honeydew and, in exchange, protect the mealybugs against their natural enemies. Ants however also need protein in their diet. Thus, they can also prey on the mealybugs especially when their carbohydrates requirements are met. This study aims to assess whether providing ants with sugar-feeders (representing ad libitum sources of carbohydrates)
I) alters their mutualistic relationships with the mealybugs (ant-tending),
II) increases the parasitism of mealybugs,
III) increases ant predation rate and
IV) alters the protein and carbohydrate profile in ant workers. For this study, we selected a citrus orchard with high infestation levels of the mealybug Planoccocus citri tended by the ant Lasius grandis.
Our results showed that sugar provisioning reduced ant activity and ant tending, resulting in an increase of mealybug parasitism rates. Ants showed a tendency to prey more sentinel preys in trees with sugar-feeders, even though the differences were not significant. The gut content in terms of carbohydrates and proteins of ant workers did not differ among trees with and without sugar-feeders. Overall, our results show that sugar provisioning can be used for improving pest management strategies against mealybugs; while further research is necessary to corroborate that predation by ants of honeydew producers increases when sugar-feeders are provided. |
| format | Artículo |
| id | ReDivia7131 |
| institution | Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ReDivia71312025-04-25T14:48:10Z Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus Pérez-Rodríguez, Jésica Pekas, Apostolos Tena, Alejandro Wackers, Felix L. Lasius grandis Mutualism Ant-tending H10 Pests of plants Planococcus citri Predation In many agroecosystems, the implementation of an integrated pest management (IPM) program against mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is undermined by the presence of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In a mutualistic association, ants obtain carbohydrates from the mealybugs in the form of honeydew and, in exchange, protect the mealybugs against their natural enemies. Ants however also need protein in their diet. Thus, they can also prey on the mealybugs especially when their carbohydrates requirements are met. This study aims to assess whether providing ants with sugar-feeders (representing ad libitum sources of carbohydrates) I) alters their mutualistic relationships with the mealybugs (ant-tending), II) increases the parasitism of mealybugs, III) increases ant predation rate and IV) alters the protein and carbohydrate profile in ant workers. For this study, we selected a citrus orchard with high infestation levels of the mealybug Planoccocus citri tended by the ant Lasius grandis. Our results showed that sugar provisioning reduced ant activity and ant tending, resulting in an increase of mealybug parasitism rates. Ants showed a tendency to prey more sentinel preys in trees with sugar-feeders, even though the differences were not significant. The gut content in terms of carbohydrates and proteins of ant workers did not differ among trees with and without sugar-feeders. Overall, our results show that sugar provisioning can be used for improving pest management strategies against mealybugs; while further research is necessary to corroborate that predation by ants of honeydew producers increases when sugar-feeders are provided. 2021-02-26T12:14:30Z 2021-02-26T12:14:30Z 2021 article acceptedVersion Pérez-Rodríguez, J., Pekas, A., Tena, A. & Wäckers, F.L. (2021). Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus, Biological Control, 2021, 104573 1049-9644 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/7131 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104573 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964421000438?via%3Dihub en info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MINECO/Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad/RTA2014-00067 Project no. RTA. 2014-00067. Financiado por el INIA. Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 España http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/ openAccess Elsevier electronico |
| spellingShingle | Lasius grandis Mutualism Ant-tending H10 Pests of plants Planococcus citri Predation Pérez-Rodríguez, Jésica Pekas, Apostolos Tena, Alejandro Wackers, Felix L. Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| title | Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| title_full | Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| title_fullStr | Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| title_short | Sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| title_sort | sugar provisioning for ants enhances biological control of mealybugs in citrus |
| topic | Lasius grandis Mutualism Ant-tending H10 Pests of plants Planococcus citri Predation |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11939/7131 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964421000438?via%3Dihub |
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