Comparison of Polygyne and Monogyne Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Population Densities

摘要: Polygyne or multiple-queen colonies of red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, are reported to be a substantially greater environmental and economic problem than monogyne single-queen ants because much higher population densities associated with polygyny. This study compared polygyne ant using measures mound density, worker number, biomass, metabolic consumption, standing caloric energy biomass. We began the experiment by counting measuring mounds at 14 sites located within 35-km radius Gainesville, FL. Average were 3.03 times larger (470 versus 155 per hectare). To adjust for differences in size, 22 21 various sizes excavated from 16 experimental sites. Colony size biomass regressed on volume. These regressions then used estimate colony volumes measured 28 field The estimated biomasses each site summed densities. populations contained 1.94 more workers unit area (35 million 18 hectare) 1.86 (27.7 14.9 kg wet weight populations. Energy usage hectare were, respectively, 2.30 1.90 Overall, this indicates that ≈2 average