The Presence of Spissistilus festinus as a Factor Affecting Egg Predation by Ants in Soybeans

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Abstract
Five ant species, of which Solenopsis germinata (F.) and Conomyrma insana (Buckley) [also C. flavopecta (M.R. Smith), Iridomyrmex pruinosus (Roger) and Pheidole morrisi Forel] were the most abundant, tended nymphs of the 3 cornered alfalfa hopper, S. festinus (Say), on soybeans in a north Florida [USA] field. The presence of nymphs tended by ants was examined as a factor affecting predation on eggs of the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens Walker. Where S. geminata tended the nymphs, the percentage of looper eggs missing after 24 h was significantly greater from plants with nymphs (77.1%) than from plants without nymphs (36.8%). Where C. insana tended the nymphs, the percentage of eggs missing was significantly greater from plants with nymphs than from plants without nymphs after 4 h (36.8% vs. 17.5%) and 8 h (65.6% vs. 42.9%), but not after 24 h (90.7% vs. 86.3%). In all experiments, the proportion of eggs missing was greatest from the lowest 1/3 of the plant and least from the upper 1/3.

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