title: Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in vineyards that are infested or uninfested with Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) in Southeastern Brazil.
abstract: The association between ants and mealybugs can result in damage to agriculture, including vineyards. In southern Brazil, the ant Linepithema micans F. contributes to the dispersal of Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille) (ground pearl), a root mealybug that can lead to economic losses. In this study, the ant communities in vineyards that were infested or uninfested with ground pearls were evaluated in the primary municipalities that produce the Niágara Rosada variety of grapes in southeastern Brazil. The hypothesis of this study was that the composition of the ant community differs between vineyards with and without E. brasiliensis. The ants were collected using subterranean traps in 10 vineyards infested with this mealybug and 10 uninfested vineyards. There was no significant association between ground pearls and the composition or richness of the ant species. Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was the most frequently observed, and Pheidole aberrans (Mayr), Pheidole subarmata (Mayr), and Brachymyrmex incisus F. were common, especially in the rainy season when ground-pearl nymphs were prevalent in the state of São Paulo. Species from preserved or specialized environments were recorded in the vineyards, even with the use of conventional management techniques.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Instituto de Biociências, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil cmunhae@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Catarina De Bortoli
authors.initials: Cde B
authors.lastname: Munhae
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, Laboratório de Mirmecologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Santina De Castro
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Morini
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Instituto de Biociências, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Odair Correa
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Bueno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D004777:Environment; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000502:physiology*; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D009758:Nymph / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D027843:Vitis / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: Solenopsis invicta; ant community; mealybug; subterranean trap; viticulture