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Nest site selection by the Argentine ant and suitability of artificial nests as a control tool

The Argentine ant is an invasive species that has been introduced worldwide causing devastating effects on entire ecosystems. Control strategies might be focused on slowing its rate of spread to limit its establishment inside yet non-invaded areas. For this, a better knowledge about nest selection is necessary to identify rapidly and accurately nest locations where to apply control measures. Herein, nest site selection by the Argentine ant, nests’ physical characteristics and their longevity were studied in three invaded cork oak secondary forest. Results showed that this species shifts nest locations seasonally to keep appropriate microclimatic conditions, nesting mainly underneath rocks during cold and rainy months and in tree bases during warmer periods. The terrain features at micro-scale (orientation and slope) were found to influence the distribution of the Argentine ant nests beneath rocks. Additionally, artificial nests used as a control tool were tested, finding that their use may be suitable if they are set in appropriate locations and before the ants start migrating to winter aggregations

Financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education, with the associated projects CGL2007-64080-C02/BOS and CGL2010-16451/BOS, and the pre-doctoral grant BES-2008-372 005102 in support to MD

info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN//CGL2010-16451/ES/LOS FORMICIDOS COMO INDICADORES DEL IMPACTO DE LA FRAGMENTACION, EXPLOTACION E INVASION DE LA HORMIGA ARGENTINA EN BOSQUES DE PINUS PINEA PINUS PINASTER./

Springer Verlag

Manager: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Espanya)
Author: Enríquez Lenis, Martha Lucía
Abril, Sílvia
Diaz Buitrago, Mireia
Gómez López, Crisanto
Date: 2013 November
Abstract: The Argentine ant is an invasive species that has been introduced worldwide causing devastating effects on entire ecosystems. Control strategies might be focused on slowing its rate of spread to limit its establishment inside yet non-invaded areas. For this, a better knowledge about nest selection is necessary to identify rapidly and accurately nest locations where to apply control measures. Herein, nest site selection by the Argentine ant, nests’ physical characteristics and their longevity were studied in three invaded cork oak secondary forest. Results showed that this species shifts nest locations seasonally to keep appropriate microclimatic conditions, nesting mainly underneath rocks during cold and rainy months and in tree bases during warmer periods. The terrain features at micro-scale (orientation and slope) were found to influence the distribution of the Argentine ant nests beneath rocks. Additionally, artificial nests used as a control tool were tested, finding that their use may be suitable if they are set in appropriate locations and before the ants start migrating to winter aggregations
Financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education, with the associated projects CGL2007-64080-C02/BOS and CGL2010-16451/BOS, and the pre-doctoral grant BES-2008-372 005102 in support to MD
Format: application/pdf
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/13678
Language: eng
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Collection: info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s00040-013-0317-3
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/issn/0020-1812
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1420-9098
Is part of: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN//CGL2010-16451/ES/LOS FORMICIDOS COMO INDICADORES DEL IMPACTO DE LA FRAGMENTACION, EXPLOTACION E INVASION DE LA HORMIGA ARGENTINA EN BOSQUES DE PINUS PINEA PINUS PINASTER./
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Formiga argentina -- Control
Argentine ant -- Control
Formiga argentina -- Nius
Argentine ant -- Nests
Title: Nest site selection by the Argentine ant and suitability of artificial nests as a control tool
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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