ARS | Publication request: NOTES ON A SOUTHERN RECORD FOR SOLENOPSIS GEMINATA (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Three nests of the fire ant, Solenopsis geminata were collected in the city of Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil in February 1994. This represents the southernmost record for S. geminata, which had been recorded for Bahia and possibly Espirito Santo. This fire ant is a known tramp species, with introduced populations being found in India, and the Galapagos Islands at populations which produce economic damages. This species probably is not able to colonize extensive areas in the south of Brazil due to the presence of S. saevissima. However, this finding suggests that the potential for introductions into residential areas exists, and that this species may possibly become an urban pest. Interestingly, the phorid parasite Pseudacteon curvatus Borgmeier, 1925, was found to hover over both S. saevissima and S. geminata. Whether this Phorid is a parasitoid of S. geminata is thus uncertain, but apparently the species are sufficiently similar to elicit search behavior by the phorid. This species is a known parasitoid of S. saevissima, although no ovipositional attacks were seen against S. geminata. This may imply that the phorid could distinguish differences between species, and may be highly host-specific.