Cohabitation of ants and mealybugs in vineyards: Results of a local study

BRITO, V. D.; PESCHIUTTA, M L; PEREYRA, M; ACHIMÓN, F.; ZYGADLO J A

Simposio; Primer simposio Iberoamericano de Mirmecología; 2020

Grupo de Estudio de Hormigas Neotropicales (GEHN)

Many mealybug species can be found living in association with different ant species belonging to several genera. One of the most important vine pests is Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), which causes major economic losses worldwide. The aims of this work were to identify the species of ants that live together with P. ficus on vines, and to evaluate the degree of relationship between both insects. The study was carried out in a local farm, located in Colonia Caroya city, Córdoba, Argentina (-31 ° 00'16.2720 ", -064 ° 04'13.8360") during the spring. A total of 153 non-contiguous vines were sampled. Each plant was monitored for 5 minutes, and the presence of P. ficus and ants was registered. Ant samples were collected and identified using generic and specific keys. Two species of ants were identified in the vineyards, Linepithema humile and Brachymyrmex patagonicus. A 44.44% of the vines sampled presented ants and mealybugs, 22.22% only mealybugs, 1.96% only ants, while no insects were registered in the 31.37% of the plants (χ² = 50.5, P < 0.001). Brachymyrmex patagonicus was the most abundant species, being found in 95.77% of the sampled vines. These results show that ants and mealybugs frequently cohabit in vineyards. More experiments are needed to further explore the association between both insects, since it is well known that ants feed on the honey produced by the mealybugs while at the same time, favor the dispersion of mealybugs to healthy plants, promoting infestations.