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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #143501
Title: RESPONSES OF INDIVIDUAL FIRE ANTS (SOLENOPSIS RICHTERI FOREL) TO VIBRATIONAL STIMULATION

Author
item MWANGI, ESTHER - NCPA, UNIV OF MS, OXFORD
item HASSE, ROGER - NCPA, UNIV OF MS, OXFORD
item LEE, PENG - NCPA, UNIV OF MS, OXFORD
item LAGO, PAUL - DEP OF BIOLOGY,U OF MS
item BUCHHOLZ, RICHARD - DEP OF BIOLOGY,U OF MS
item Streett, Douglas

Submitted to: Agroacoustics Symposium
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/2002
Publication Date: 5/6/2002
Citation: MWANGI, E., HASSE, R., LEE, P., LAGO, P., BUCHHOLZ, R., STREETT, D.A. RESPONSES OF INDIVIDUAL FIRE ANTS (SOLENOPSIS RICHTERI FOREL) TO VIBRATIONAL STIMULATION. AGROACOUSTICS SYMPOSIUM. 2002. P.159-174.

Interpretive Summary: How imported fire ants respond to acoustical vibration both in the air and in the soil may prove valuable in the development of novel control strategies. The response of imported fire ants to various vibrational stimuli was examined and the behavioral responses of individual fire ants were determined to select frequencies. The responses of ants to targeted frequencies may prove useful in eliaiting behavioral modifications by the ants to optimize the mass production of biological control agents against imported fire ants.

Technical Abstract: The response of fire ants (Solenopsis richteri Forel) to various vibrational stimuli was examined. Specifically targeted was the effect of a frequency of 250Hz on individual fire ants. The physical set up for the experiment included an accelerometer coupled to a substrate surface that measured the magnitude of the acceleration of the surface. Tethered ants were placed on the surface and subjected to a substrate vibration. Direct visual observations of ant responses (usually appendage movement) were recorded. Vibration frequency data was converted to velocity and surface displacement in order to quantify the sensitivity of insects to different vibratory stimuli, and the data was then analyzed statistically. The results showed that individual fire ants displayed body movements in response to vibrational stimuli.