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NATIVE VERSUS EXOTIC ANTS AS A FOOD SOURCE FOR THE ANT LION, (Myrmeleon crudelis)

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Date Issued:
2015
Abstract/Description:
Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant originally from South America, has become an important exotic pest in the southeastern US. Solenopsis invicta is well known for its powerful sting and are known to attack native wildlife, such as hatchling sea turtles. I examined the suitability of S. invicta as prey for a native antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis, in South Florida. I compared the growth and survival over 12 week period of 16 ant lions fed S. invicta and 16 fed a native pyramid ant, Dorymyrmex bureni. I found antlions fed S. invicta had significantly lower growth and survival than antlions fed D. bureni. Thus, S. invicta does not appear to be suitable prey for M. crudelis, and may have a negative impact on M. crudelis in areas where it invades.
Title: NATIVE VERSUS EXOTIC ANTS AS A FOOD SOURCE FOR THE ANT LION, (Myrmeleon crudelis).
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Name(s): Brothers, David G. , author
Wetterer, James K. , Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Date Created: 2015
Date Issued: 2015
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: online resource
Extent: 12 p.
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant originally from South America, has become an important exotic pest in the southeastern US. Solenopsis invicta is well known for its powerful sting and are known to attack native wildlife, such as hatchling sea turtles. I examined the suitability of S. invicta as prey for a native antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis, in South Florida. I compared the growth and survival over 12 week period of 16 ant lions fed S. invicta and 16 fed a native pyramid ant, Dorymyrmex bureni. I found antlions fed S. invicta had significantly lower growth and survival than antlions fed D. bureni. Thus, S. invicta does not appear to be suitable prey for M. crudelis, and may have a negative impact on M. crudelis in areas where it invades.
Identifier: FA00013648 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2015.
Collection: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013648
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Host Institution: FAU

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