A study of the relationship between Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce (Strepsiptera, Myrmecolacidae) and the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) /
The relationship between the strepsipteran Caenocholaxfenyesi Pierce and its male's ant host, Solenopsis invicta Buren is examined. CaenocholaxfenYesi has been collected sporadically from the southeastern United States to Argentina. This distribution is supplemented with new reports from five...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1996.
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=743266711&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | The relationship between the strepsipteran Caenocholaxfenyesi Pierce and its male's ant host, Solenopsis invicta Buren is examined. CaenocholaxfenYesi has been collected sporadically from the southeastern United States to Argentina. This distribution is supplemented with new reports from five Texas counties and one region of Mexico. Stylopization levels of S. invicta were found at 0 to 3.3% in Brazos County, Texas. Development of male C.,fenyesi takes approximately six months at a constant temperature of 22' C. Caenocholaxfenyesi males emerge throughout the year, provided the temperature is above a threshold. Greatest emergence occurs in @d to late summer. Humidity appears to have no effect on emergence of C. fenyesi. Caenocholaxfenyesi causes a behavior change in S. invicta during the last stage of pupal development. This behavior change causes the ant host to cease social functions, become isolated, and remain in a posture resembling gaster flagging until after strepsipteran emergence. Solenopsis invicta acquires a positive phototaxis during this time. After development is completed, the male emerges and lives a maximum of three hours, Total length of adult males ranged from 0. 70 to 1. 5 2 nim, with a direct correlation to the size of their ant host The female C. fenyesi and its host, Hapithus agitator Uhler, were discovered. The female, triungulin stage , and male developmental stages are described. This is the first f a female, triungulin, and secondary and tertiary larvae in the genus description o Caenocholax and the first description of secondary and tertiary larvae in the family Myrmecolacidae. The potential of using C. fenyesi as a biological control agent of S. invicta is discussed. Factors indicating that it is a good candidate for a biological control agent include@ it is a native parasitoid, without the dangers of introducing an exotic insect; it has the potential for increased stylopization levels- and it has the ability to not only kill its host, but also to impact other members of the colony due to behavioral changes of stylopized ants. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Entomology". |
| Physical Description: | x, 149 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |