Role of predatory ants (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) as a biological control agent to sugar beet pests [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Formicid species (order: Hymenoptera) occurring in the Egyptian sugar beet fields at the Experimental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station, were surveyed during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons. Identified specimens revealed the occurrence of seven formicid species belonging to three subfamilies, i.e. Dolichoderinae (one specie), Formicinae (two species) and Myrmicinae (four species). The majority of devoured prey by formicid species were insect pests, mites and snails (93.44%). Fortunately, the natural enemies were preyed by ants constituted only 6.56% of the total prey. The major insect pests were Collembola, dipterous, cicadellids, Scrobipalpa ocellatella Boyd., Thrips tabaci Lind., Cassida vittata Vill. and aphids with 21.31, 18.03,14.75,11.48, 3.28, 3.28 and 3.28%, respectively. Application of insecticides proved to be hazardous to these beneficial formicids. Reduction in formicid populations in treated plots with chlorpyrifos-methyl after twenty-four hours, one week and two weeks were 85.06, 64.52 and 58.33%, respectively. Finally, the current investigation shows the importance of ants as a biocontrol agent, which indicates to the necessity to avoid or minimize the insecticidal applications. Key words: Biological control, Formicidae, sugar beet, pests, chlorpyrifos-methyl.

Summary in Arabic.

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