Predatory behaviour of red ant (Oecophylla smaragdina F) on various insect pests of different crops

Abstract

Studies on the feeding and predatory behaviour of weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) were conducted in the IINET (In Vivo Insect Natural Enemies Testing) field beside the Biocontrol laboratory, department of Entomology, IGKV, and Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The ants were found to be active foragers, scavengers, and predators prevalent in the vicinity of several horticultural plantations and crops. The workers ants preyed on many insect species and fed on nectar exudates from plants as well as sticky secretions produced by Homopteran and Lepidopteran insects. Results of the present study revealed that O. smaragdina attached a number of species of aphids, mealy bug, lepidopteran larvae and few beetles. It consumed 100% sucking pests tested such as Green sting bug, Chinavia hilaris and hibiscus mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus and moderately preferred to consume different species of aphids, i.e among oleander aphid, Aphis nerii (71.2%), Aonla aphid, Setaphis bougainvilleae (71%), Cowpea aphid, Aphis Craccivora (62.5%), Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (72.5%), Cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (70.4%) and 67% of chrysanthamum aphid, Macrosiphoniella sanborni, whereas, gundhi bug (0%) was not preferred for their feeding, perhaps due to the unpleasant odour, emitted by them. Other than sucking pests, O. smaragdina highly preferred larvae of lemon butterfly, Papilio demoleus (100%), chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (100%), rice horn caterpillar, Melanitis leda ismene (100%) and while comparatively lesser feeding preference was seen in case of tobacco cut worm larvae, Spodoptera litura (72%), red pumpkin beetle, Raphidopalpa foveicollis (70%), fall army worm larvae, Spodoptera frugiperda (68%), and in leaf defoliator larvae, Euproctis spp. (54%) consumption was noticed. Tussock moth larvae, Lymantriidae (0.00%), Bihar hairy caterpillar larvae, Spilosoma oblique (0.00%) were not at all since preferred may be due to the presence of hairs /setae on their body.