Influence of selected weedy and weed-free sugarcane habitats on diet composition and foraging activity of the imported fire ant (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Imported fire ant (IFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, diet composition and foraging activity investigations in selected weedy sugarcane habitats showed that the most frequent foraging occurred in grass habitats, which also had the greatest vegetation density and above-ground biomass. IFA prey capture efficiency was lower in broadleaf than in weed-free habitats, possibly due to pollen and nectar foraging, and was lower in grass habitats, probably as a result of predator satiation. Based on the results obtained, broadleaf plants are expected to provide more prey per amount of dry biomas (g/m super(2)) than grasses or sugarcane alone. These data show that IFA population levels can be enhanced through judicious vegetation management. This enhancement would result in increased ecological stability of the sugarcane crop protection system.