Biological control of Hypothenemus hampei by Crematogaster quadriformis

Ants use environmental volatiles to organize themselves as a society and to forage, and they are attracted by the odors of food. Some species of ants have been reported acting as natural enemies of the coffee borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an important pest for coffee growing worldwide. In coffee trees, in addition to predatory ants, it is possible to find lacewings, such as Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), that act on the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). As ants of genus Crematogaster have already been recorded preying on the coffee borer, the objective of this work was to evaluate the role of Crematogaster quadriformis Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Hypothenemus hampei and its interference with the natural enemy Chrysoperla externa, in addition to evaluate the ant’s attractiveness to fruits at different stages of maturation, infested and not infested by the coffee berry borer. The attack of ants on individuals of the coffee borer and lacewings, and their attraction to coffee fruit volatiles, were investigated in controlled conditions. Crematogaster quadriformis showed potential as natural enemy against the coffee borer berry, but also caused intraguild predation, indicating it could interfere with the lacewing’s role as a natural enemy. The ants were attracted to ripe coffee berries, but were unable to distinguish infested from non-infested berries.

蚂蚁利用环境挥发性物质来组织社会生活以及进行觅食，它们对食物的气味产生吸引力。已有报道指出，某些蚁种被视为咖啡象甲（Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari）的自然天敌，而咖啡象甲是全球咖啡种植中的重要害虫。在咖啡树上，除了捕食性蚂蚁外，还可能发现如 Chrysoperla externa Hagen（神经虫目：蝶角叶甲科）等食植叶甲，它们作用于咖啡叶矿虫（Leucoptera coffeella Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet）之上。鉴于已知 Crematogaster 属的蚂蚁捕食咖啡象甲，本研究旨在评估 Crematogaster quadriformis Roger（膜翅目：蚁科）在 Hypothenemus hampei 上的作用及其对自然天敌 Chrysoperla externa 的干扰作用，同时评估蚂蚁对不同成熟阶段、受咖啡豆象甲侵害与否的咖啡果实之吸引力。在控制条件下，研究了蚂蚁对咖啡象甲个体和食植叶甲的攻击行为，以及它们对咖啡果实的挥发性物质的吸引力。Crematogaster quadriformis 显示出作为咖啡豆象甲的自然天敌的潜力，但同时也导致了同族内的捕食，这表明它可能会干扰食植叶甲作为自然天敌的作用。蚂蚁被成熟的咖啡果实所吸引，但无法区分受侵害的果实与未受侵害的果实。