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Description
The richness and diversity of native ant species on Mt. Desert Island, Maine, have been reduced in areas infested with Myrica rubra (European red ant). In general, the success of invasive ant species has been attributed to interference and exploitative competition coupled with the ants’ opportunistic diets. In field experiments on Mount Desert Island, Maine, M. rubra discovered and recruited to baits faster than native ants. This study also showed that M. rubra displaced most native ant species from food resources (Garnas 2005). This, together with M. rubra’s aggressive defense of invaded territories, has led to fewer native ants in infested areas. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate ant–homopteran relationships and discuss the possibility of homopterans indirectly aiding ant invasions.
Document Type
Article
ISSN
1070-1524
Rights and Access Note
Rights assessment remains the responsibility of the researcher. No known restrictions on publication.
Volume
199
Publication Date
10-1-2008
Publisher
Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station
City
Orono
Keywords
introduced ants, mutualism, ant behavior, homoptera, aphids
Disciplines
Behavior and Ethology | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Entomology
Recommended Citation
McPhee, K.E., E. Groden, and F.A. Drummond. 2008. Ant-homopteran relationships: Relevance to an ant invasion in Maine. Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 199.
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