A Biological Check Method for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Entomophagous Insects1

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Abstract
The use of honeydew-feeding ants to suppress natural enemy populations is suggested as a new method of evaluating the efficacy of natural enemies. Comparisons are made between pest and natural enemy populations on natural control (ant-free) trees and on biological check (ant-infested) trees. Differences between the 2 indicate in part the effectiveness of the natural enemies. The degree of accuracy of this method depends upon the intensity of ant activity. Ants may cause increases in diaspine scale and mite populations in addition to their well-known effects of increasing populations of honeydew-secreting Homoptera. They depress populations of both parasites and predators of the California red scale. Certain spp. of natural enemies are affected more adversely than others by ants.