Patterns in the Red Imported Fire Ant Settlement of a Louisiana Pasture: Some Demographic Parameters, Interspecific Competition and Food Sharing

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Abstract
In a densely populated pasture near Hammond, La., Solenopsis invicta Buren mounds have an aggregate distribution with an average mound density of 0.0096/m. Only 2 other ant species, Monomorium minimum (Buckley) and Paratrechina arenivaga (Wheeler), were common. A native fire ant, S. xyloni McCook, occurred in the soil under several large trees. Random distribution of baits in the field showed that, during daytime, 92–96% of the baits was first discovered by S. invicta , but 100% of them was exploited by this species. On the other hand, only 70% of the baits distributed on the S. invicta mounds was exploited by S. invicta itself, while the remaining 30% was exploited mainly by M. minimum. Monomorium workers appeared to possess a powerful poison which, when spread in the air, had a strong repellent effect against S. invicta workers. In this way Monomorium was often successful even in direct competition for food with S. invicta . This aggression-defense mechanism seemed to be ineffective against the native fire ant, S. xyloni , although the behavior of Monomorium to both species of fire ants appeared to be exactly the same and the responses of both species of fire ants seemed identical.

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