Browsing by Subject "Ant"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Aethalionidae: Functional equivalents of extrafloral nectaries in Bauhinia (cesalpinionidea)
    (Murcia: Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 1992) Fowler, H.G.; Facultad de Biología
    Bauhinia forficata Link (Cesalpinionidea), is a common tree of the sub-tropical region of South America, and is heavily utilized as an urban shade tree. Among many of the phytophagous insects associated with this species is the polyphagous Aethalion reticulatum (L.). This sap sucking bug forms colonies on small branches or the base of flowers and developing seed pods. Colonies are tended by at least 6 species of ants in Rio Claro, SP, Brazil, with the most prevalent being Camponotus rufipes (Fabncius). Through manipulative experiments, it was established that colonies of A. reticulatum depend upon ant care for survivorship, and that leaves, flowers and seed pods suffered significantly less herbivory when associated with A. reticulatim colonies, although pre-dispersa1 bruchid seed predation was not affected. Colonies of A. reticulatum may be more beneficia1 than detrimental to the plant, and pattems are similar to benefits reported for extrafloral nectaries.
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    Formicidae (Hymenoptera) community in corpses at different altitudes in a semiarid wild environment in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula
    (Wiley, 2020-06-18) Pérez Marcos, María; López-Gallego, Elena; Arnaldos Sanabria, María Isabel; Martínez-Ibáñez, Dolores; García, María Dolores; Zoología y Antropología Física
    The Formicidae are considered crucial components of the entomosarcosaprophagous fauna because they can delay the decomposition process, cause tissue postmortem damage and produce bloodstain patterns that may confuse investigations. Moreover, some studies suggest that the Formicidae can act as environmental and seasonal indicators. However, studies on this group on vertebrate carcasses are scarce, especially in the Iberian Peninsula and the southwest of Europe. Thus, comparative studies at different altitudes in a protected wild mountain area could provide useful information on its composition in such environmental conditions, their role as environmental indicators and their forensic implications. For this reason, the Formicidae sarcosaprophagous community was studied at three different altitudes, between 400 and 1,500 m, in a wild mountainous area in the southeast of Spain using a modified Schoenly trap, with two pitfall traps inside, baited with 5 kg piglets (Sus scrofa L.). This work illustrates an approach to the community of the Formicidae, as a representative of the sarcosaprophagous community in an altitudinal gradient, showing a great variability in its composition. Furthermore, when comparing our results with other studies carried out in the Iberian Peninsula, we are able to suggest certain species with a potential utility as geographic and environmental indicators. Thus, Iberoformica subrufa, Lasius brunneus, Lasius cinereus and Camponotus sylvaticus are species of special interest as they appeared in either one of the sampled areas or in the same region.
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    Relative representation of pheidole (hymenoptera : formicidae)in local ground ant assemblages of the Americas
    (Murcia : Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 1993) Fowler, H.G.; Facultad de Biología
    Using 195 published ground ant wmmunity surveys from the Amencas, the fauna1 representation of Pheidole was greater than any other genus. No significant relationship between the percent faunal representation with latitude was found, although their representation was much richer in the tropics. Tree crops had significantly higher percentages of species of Pheidole than did other habitat types. Furthermore, a significant negative relationship was found between the percent representation of Pheidole and al1 formicines. This effect was stronger than the relationship between formicines and latitude. No significant negative relations were found for other subfamilies. This suggests that Pheidole may compete strongly with formicines, or that these groups are placed on opposite ends of an enviromental stress gradient