INVESTIGADORES
CALCATERRA Luis Alberto
artículos
Título:
Survey of Solenopsis Fire Ants and Their Parasitoid Flies
Autor/es:
LUIS A. CALCATERRA, ROBERT K. VANDER MEER, JAMES P. PITTS, JUAN P. LIVORE, AND NEIL D. TSUTSUI
Revista:
ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGYCAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
Editorial:
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER
Referencias:
Año: 2007 vol. 100 p. 512 - 521
ISSN:
0013-8746
Resumen:
Twenty-two species of Pseudacteon ßies (Diptera: Phoridae) are known to attack Þre ants (Solenopsis spp.) in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, but none are known in Chile. Surveys were conducted in central Chile and at similar latitudes in western Argentina to detect the presence of Þre ants and parasitoid ßies and to determine their relationship. Flies and Þre ants were much more common and abundant in Argentina. In total, 100 colonies of four Þre ant species were found at 63.6% of the sites surveyed. In contrast, only six colonies of one species, Solenopsis gayi (Spinola), were found at 4.7% of the sites surveyed in Chile. Our survey includes the Þrst record of Þve parasitic ßy species in central western Argentina and a new host, Solenopsis quinquecuspis Forel. The large form of Pseudacteon obtusus Borgmeier was found attacking S. gayi in Chile, which is the Þrst record in that country, and the Þrst record on this host species. The southern-most and western-most records were established for Þre ant-decapitating ßies. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) indicates that S. gayi is genetically closer to the Argentine Þre ants (saevissima-group) than the North American S. geminatagroup. However, S. gayi venom alkaloid composition is similar to S. geminata-group, whereas cuticular hydrocarbon composition has characteristics of both groups. Analysis of mtDNA from the collected ßies supports the monophyly of P. obtusus and suggests that the Chilean population is similar to populations in eastern Argentina. The presence of P. obtusus in Chile could be explained by immigrant parasitized Þre ant species from Argentina or by an accidental introduction.Pseudacteon ßies (Diptera: Phoridae) are known to attack Þre ants (Solenopsis spp.) in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay, but none are known in Chile. Surveys were conducted in central Chile and at similar latitudes in western Argentina to detect the presence of Þre ants and parasitoid ßies and to determine their relationship. Flies and Þre ants were much more common and abundant in Argentina. In total, 100 colonies of four Þre ant species were found at 63.6% of the sites surveyed. In contrast, only six colonies of one species, Solenopsis gayi (Spinola), were found at 4.7% of the sites surveyed in Chile. Our survey includes the Þrst record of Þve parasitic ßy species in central western Argentina and a new host, Solenopsis quinquecuspis Forel. The large form of Pseudacteon obtusus Borgmeier was found attacking S. gayi in Chile, which is the Þrst record in that country, and the Þrst record on this host species. The southern-most and western-most records were established for Þre ant-decapitating ßies. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) indicates that S. gayi is genetically closer to the Argentine Þre ants (saevissima-group) than the North American S. geminatagroup. However, S. gayi venom alkaloid composition is similar to S. geminata-group, whereas cuticular hydrocarbon composition has characteristics of both groups. Analysis of mtDNA from the collected ßies supports the monophyly of P. obtusus and suggests that the Chilean population is similar to populations in eastern Argentina. The presence of P. obtusus in Chile could be explained by immigrant parasitized Þre ant species from Argentina or by an accidental introduction.