The economic importance of the Formicidae ants in agriculture is mainly due to their interactions with honeydewproducing Hemipterans, which reduce the abundance of beneficial arthropods in the canopies, thus hindering the biological control of pests. Argentine ant Linepithema humile Mayr, 1868 and native ants of the genera Camponotus, Formica, Lasius, Pheidole, Plagiolepis, Tapinoma, Tetramorium are the most common ant species that aggressively protect and attend Hemipterans in the Mediterranean Region. Although many ants occur in citrus groves, very few species directly damage the plants. A brief review of the important species and guidelines for their management in citrus groves are presented.
Formicidae
Marcello Verdinelli
2012
Abstract
The economic importance of the Formicidae ants in agriculture is mainly due to their interactions with honeydewproducing Hemipterans, which reduce the abundance of beneficial arthropods in the canopies, thus hindering the biological control of pests. Argentine ant Linepithema humile Mayr, 1868 and native ants of the genera Camponotus, Formica, Lasius, Pheidole, Plagiolepis, Tapinoma, Tetramorium are the most common ant species that aggressively protect and attend Hemipterans in the Mediterranean Region. Although many ants occur in citrus groves, very few species directly damage the plants. A brief review of the important species and guidelines for their management in citrus groves are presented.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
