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List of contents
Foreword -- Preface -- Keynote Address -- 10 -- History of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Problem -- Economics of Grass-Cutting Ants -- History of Imported Fire Ants in the United States -- Agricultural and Medical Impact of the Imported Fire Ants -- Beneficial Aspects of the Imported Fire Ant: A Field Ecology Approach -- Biology and Ecology -- 88 -- 104 -- 114 -- 123 -- 146 -- 159 -- 172 -- 184 -- Perspectives on Some Queen Pheromones of Social Insects with Special Reference to the Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta -- Chemical Communication in Leaf-Cutting Ants -- The Trail Pheromone Complex of Solenopsis invicta and solenopsis richteri -- Nestmate Recognition and Territorial Marking in Solenopsis geminata and in some Attini -- The Queen Recognition Pheromone of Solenopsis invicta -- Leaf-Cutting Ant Symbiotic Fungi: A Synthesis of Recent Research -- Prevention of Feeding by Acromyrmex octospinosus with Antifeedants from Yams -- Chemical Ecology of Host Plant Selection by the Leaf-Cutting Ant, Atta cephalotes -- Physiology and Biochemistry -- 289 -- 302 -- 316 -- 327 -- Diseases of Fire Ants: Problems and Opportunities -- Protection of Leaf-Cutting Ants from Biohazards: Is There a Future for Microbiological Control? -- Chemical Control and Bait Formulations for Leaf-Cutting Ants -- The Search for Chemical Bait Toxicants -- Chemical Baits: Specificity and Effects on Other Ant Species -- Insect Growth Regulators for Control of the Imported Fire Ant -- Status of Leaf-Cutting Ant Control in Forest Plantations in Brazil -- Control of Atta and Acromyrmex spp. in Pine Tree Plantations in the Venezuelan Llanos
Summary
The 1985 Research Conference on Fire Ants and Leaf-Cutting Ants covered the most recent developments in research and control of these insect pests of the New World tropical and subtropical zones, the southern United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. This volume contains chapters that discuss the history and economics, biology and ecology, behavior, pheromones and other semiochemicals, physiology, and biochemistry of fire ants and leaf-cutting ants, as well as current and future control strategies. The information provided illustrates past and present agricultural and medical problems associated with these pest ants; however, it also brings out the point that they may at times be beneficial. The chapters on basic aspects of the biology and ecology of the ants provide up-to-date information that is useful for a more complete understanding of their social behavior and the unique symbiotic relationship between leaf-cutting ants and their fungi. New approaches to control are illustrated by innovative research on anti-feedant chemicals from plants that prevent feeding by leaf-cutting ants. The present status of chemical baits and biocontrol is addressed, as well as the possibilities of future novel methods based on the use of anti-metabolites, insect hormones, behavior modifying substances, and species-specific toxic bait systems to create integrated pest management systems.
