Surface activity of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera:Formicidae), in polygyne infested areas of Brazos Co., Texas /

(MSA), was devised to calculate surface densities of

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martin, James Benjamin, 1962-
Format: Thesis eBook
Language:English
Published: [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified] ; 1996.
Subjects:
Online Access:Link to OAKTrust copy
Description
Summary:(MSA), was devised to calculate surface densities of
(post oak forest), and pond edge. Observations at the
1996. When S. invicia scouts were active (> 3 ants
A method, introduced here as the Multiple Stick Array
absence on the surface) of S. invicia are surface
activity at pond edges continued at high levels
activity: cattle pasture, fallow field, forested edge
approached 31.4'C and resumed activity in the afternoon
as temperatures fell towards 33.9'C, showing a
between these factors.
cattle pasture was 0.509, in fallow field 0.273, in
components influencing scouting behavior (presence or
continued at low levels throughout the day. Surface
executed from the fall of 1995 through the fall of
forest 0.482, and at pond edge 11.293. Surface activity
Four habitat types that are common throughout the
landscape matrix of Texas and other regions of the
morning when the mean (shaded) surface temperature
noted per observation period per MSA), the average
number of ants intercepting the observation area in
of ants followed a bi-modal pattern in open pastures,
of time (5 minutes) in each of these habitats were
or late afternoon/evening. Ants ceased activity in the
radiation impacting the surface, and the interactions
Solenopsis iniicta scouts over time and space. Four
southern U.S. were examined for surface scouting
speculate that the three most important abiotic
statistically significant difference between the
sub array level (surface area ca. 0.5m2) over a period
sub arrays of six sticks each were deposited on the
substrate and all ants that cross the sticks are noted.
Surface activity in shaded forest areas usually
temperature means (t = - 2.89- df = 20; P = 0.009).
temperature, surface humidity, and amount of solar
the majority of activity occurred during either morning
throughout the day. Based on these observations, I
Item Description:"Major subject: Entomology".
Vita.
Physical Description:x, 120 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Also available online.
Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references: pages 55-60.