title: Daily foraging pattern and proteinaceous food preferences of Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera:Formicidae).
abstract: A field study on foraging activity and proteinacous food preference was performed on the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) (Fabricius) at the School of Biological Sciences and Desasiswa Bakti Permai, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. Foraging activity studies of 4 colonies of S. geminata were conducted in the field for 24 hours. Foraging activity significantly increased 4 hours before sunset and maximum foraging occurred at midnight until early morning. Three types of proteinacous food; anchovy, meat and egg yolk were tested among the five colonies of S. geminata in the field. The egg yolk was the most preferred food (100%) followed by meat (31%) and anchovy (15%).
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Norasmah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abu Hassan
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Che Salmah
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Nurita
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nur Aida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004530:Egg Yolk; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005399:Fishes; D005518:Food Preferences; D008460:Meat
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins