Bonus Tydskrif WINTER 2024

Ants and their strategies in citrus integrated pest management (IPM) Although ants can be beneficial by suppressing various pests when they are active only on orchard floors, they are generally a problem when they move upwards into citrus trees (Bownes et al. , 2014). Ants intentionally and directly visit hemipteran insect pests such as soft scales, aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs because of the honeydew they produce (Samways et al. , 1998; Bedford, 1968; Buckley, 1987; Bartlett, 1961; Itioka & Inoue, 1996; Samways et According to Samways et al. (1982), of the 123 ant species that have been recorded in citrus orchards in South Africa to date, only 44 foraged in trees and only 25 attended to honeydew- producing insects. However, only four species have attained pest status and are listed in order of importance: Brown house ants tending to cottony cushion scales. Observations record that ants assist with the transport of insects and parental care of some hemipteran species to enhance brood production, so confirming their mutualistic, symbiotic relationship. Red scale does not produce honeydew and it is, therefore, not directly attended by ants. However, increased ant activity Ant attendance on honeydew-producing hemipteran insect pests is mainly to harvest honeydew, thus protecting the host against parasitoids, predators and even some entomopathogenic fungi. • The pugnacious ant, Anoplolepsis custodiens Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicinae). • The brown house ant, Pheidole megacephale Fabricius. • The black pugnacious ant, A. steingroeveri Forel. • The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile Mayr. Winter 2024 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 38