Interactions between Solenopsis invicta (Buren) and Monomorium minimum (Buckley) under varying distance and feeding status
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abstract
A greenhouse study was initiated to investigate the interactions between the native competitive ant Monomorium minimum (Buckley) and incipient red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Buren) colonies with 30 workers. The effect of two factors on S. invicta density, distance to the competitor's nest and feeding status (fed vs. starved), were investigated. Results suggest that distance had a significant effect on S. invicta density in the presence of M. minimum; whereas, feeding status did not. The effects of distance and feeding status were also studied on the probability of invasion by either species and the probability of interaction between the two colonies. Results indicate distance had a significant effect on probability of both invasion and interaction. The invasion of incipient S. invicta colonies occurred only at a distance of 0.2m; however, interactions between the two species occurred even at the farther distances of 3.2m and 6.4m. Interactions were greater near the foraging arena under fed conditions and greater near the S. invicta nest under starved conditions.
