Food competition mechanism between Solenopsis invicta Buren and Tapinoma melanocephalum Fabricius

Authors

  • Biqiu Wu Guangxi Province Academy of Agricultural Science
  • Lei Wang South China Agricultural University
  • Guangwen Liang South China Agricultural University
  • Yongyue Lu South China Agricultural University
  • Ling Zeng South China Agricultural University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v61i3.265-273

Keywords:

Solenopsis invicta, Tapinoma melanocephalum, interspecific coexistence, interspecific competition

Abstract

This study compared the amount of food resource depletion and interference competition at the individual and colony levels between Solenopsis invicta and Tapinoma melanocephalum laboratory colonies. The consumption of sausage, honey water, and mealworm by S. invicta colonies of equal worker number was higher than that by T. melanocephalum colonies. The consumption of sausage and honey water by S. invicta colonies of equal worker number was significantly higher than that by T. melanocephalum colonies. However, the amounts of sausage, honey water, and mealworm depleted by S. invicta colonies of equal worker biomass were lower than those depleted by T. melanocephalum colonies. The consumption of sausage and mealworm by S. invicta colonies of equal worker biomass were also significantly lower than that by T. melanocephalum colonies. Individual-level interference competition between S. invicta and T. melanocephalum colonies in limited space was intense. Competition intensity and the death rate reached their maximum when the worker numbers of both colonies were equal. In any proportion, the death rate of T. melanocephalum reached over 80%, higher than that of S. invicta.

S. invicta colonies of equal worker biomass and equal worker number recruited more workers for colony-level interference competition and used more resources. However, the death rates among S. invicta colonies were higher than those among T. melanocephalum colonies. The active resource plundering of S. invicta reflected their intense competitiveness and limited the range of activity of T. melanocephalum.

 

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Published

2014-09-30

How to Cite

Wu, B., Wang, L., Liang, G., Lu, Y., & Zeng, L. (2014). Food competition mechanism between Solenopsis invicta Buren and Tapinoma melanocephalum Fabricius. Sociobiology, 61(3), 265–273. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v61i3.265-273

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Section

Research Article - Ants