Abstract
Summary Ants can play an important role in the success and impact of many species invasions, including weed species. This study, in a fragment of secondary forest in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, evaluates the role of native leafcutter ants in the spread of the exotic plant Murraya paniculata, an alternative host of bacteria causing citrus greening disease. The foraging activity of leafcutter ants on fruits of ten M. paniculata plants was observed daily during August 2010. The only leafcutter ant species observed was Acromyrmex niger (Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), which showed a preference to remove M. paniculata fruits to its nests, cleaning them and discarding the seeds on refuse piles afterwards. Murraya paniculata was the main plant whose seeds were deposited in refuse piles (61-82% of the seeds), where they commonly germinated. This study shows that dispersal of this weed is facilitated by native leafcutter ants. This may promote the spread and establishment of this alternative host of citrus greening disease and so lead to problems in monitoring and control of this disease.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
