1990/08/01 by Joon‐Ho Lee, S. J. Johnson, Vernon L. Wright · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Insect and Pesticide Research #Hemiptera Insect Studies #Noctuidae #Biology #Lepidoptera genitalia #Caterpillar #Pupa #Agronomy #Botany #Larva
paper · doi:10.1093/ee/19.4.978
openalex publication_date 1990/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Seven species of insects including ground beetles, tiger beetles, earwigs, and the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, were identified in laboratory feeding trials as pupal predators of velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner. The survivorship and predation of velvetbean caterpillar pupae were studied in soybean fields in Louisiana. Two descriptive categories of predatory feeding action were identified, "partial" and "complete". Predation was the principal mortality factor, accounting for 52.5 to 95.2% mortality in plots with fire ants. The red imported fire ant was a primary predator, accounting for 77.5 to 96.5% of total predator mortality for pupae under the soil surface in plots with fire ants. Our studies also indicated that the red imported fire ant seemed to reduce other ground-dwelling pupal predators of velvetbean caterpillar.