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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201013
Title: ACOUSTICAL ANALYSIS OF WINGBEAT FREQUENCIES FOR ALATE IMPORTED FIRE ANTS

Author
item Streett, Douglas
item GUI, LICHUAN - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item TALMADGE, CARRICK - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item HASSE, ROGER - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item FINK, TOM - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item SKALS, NIELS - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item CAO, ZHONGHUA - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item WANG, YONG - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item JAISWAL, ADARSH - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI
item SEINER, JOHN - UNIV OF MISSISSIPPI

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2006
Publication Date: 8/2/2006
Citation: Streett, D.A., Gui, L., Talmadge, C., Hasse, R., Fink, T., Skals, N., Cao, Z., Wang, Y., Jaiswal, A., Seiner, J. 2006. Acoustical analysis of wingbeat frequencies for alate imported fire ants. Meeting Abstract. IV International Congress of IUSSI, Washington, DC, July 20 - August 4, 2006.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren and the black imported fire ant (BIFA), Solenopsis richteri Forel coexist in the state of Mississippi along with reproductively viable F1 hybrids of these two species. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the wingbeat frequencies produced by RIFA, BIFA, and hybrid alate reproductives. In an initial study wingbeat frequencies were analyzed to identify harmonic and fundamental frequencies using a low frequency microphone. RIFA alate males had a mean fundamental wingbeat frequency of 127 Hz and RIFA alate females had a mean fundamental wingbeat frequency of 118 Hz. BIFA alate reproductives had significantly lower fundamental wingbeat frequencies, with a mean frequency of 113 Hz for alate males and a mean wingbeat frequency of 103 Hz for alate females. Hybrid alate males had a mean fundamental wingbeat frequency of 107 Hz versus a mean fundamental frequency of 105 Hz for hybrid females. Regardless of gender, significant differences were found between RIFA alates versus BIFA/hybrid alates. However, no significant differences were found between BIFA and hybrids based on gender. Significant differences were also found between males and female fundamental wingbeat frequencies for both RIFA and BIFA alate reproductives. The fundamental wingbeat frequencies produced by black imported fire ant alate reproductives were examined in greater detail using a high speed camera and the high-sensitivity microphone array to compare with the earlier low frequency microphone studies. Among the key results from this study were that the sound patterns recorded were consistent with those of an acoustic dipole source, with a significant component of the sound production appearing in the ultrasonic bandwidth (10000-40000 Hz).