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Effects of the ant Lasius niger (L.) on insects preying on small populations of Aphis fabae Scop. on bean plants
Author(s) -
BANKS C.J.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1962.tb06067.x
Subject(s) - aphis , lasius , biology , aphid , predation , botany , ant , homoptera , pest analysis , toxicology , ecology
SUMMARY Small populations of Aphis fabae were wholly or partially protected by the ant Lasius niger which drove most predators away. Predators eliminated whole colonies of unprotected aphids or persistently restricted their numbers. Protection of the aphid against predators is probably more important than hitherto thought, and may be more important than the other ways in which ants affect the multiplication rate of A. fabae.