Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Effects on the Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and Coprophagous Scarabs

Abstract

Predation by natural populations of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, caused significant reductions in known populations of horn flies in field studies over a 2-year period in Texas (1980–1981). Exposure to the combined effects of predators and competitors of the horn fly had a greater effect on horn fly populations than exposure to S. invicta alone. The presence of S. invicta had a negative effect on the native scarabs and on Onthophagus gazella F., an imported scarab, as they attempted to colonize fresh cattle manure. However, O. gazella was able to utilize its food source in the presence of large numbers of S. invicta.