Determination and management of weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), marks on mango fruit in the Northern Territory of Australia

• Published in: International journal of pest management Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 27 - 30
• Main Authors: Peng, R.K, Christian, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2009
• Subjects: ant colony isolation; ant fighting; ant formic acid; ant marks; biological control agents; crop damage; fighting; formic acid; fruit quality; fruits (plant anatomy); insect colonies; insect pests; Mangifera indica; mangoes; Oecophylla smaragdina; orchards; pest management; weaver ants; Northern Territory

Weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius), can be used to manage insect pests in mango orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia, but previously unidentified black marks on fruit can reduce fruit marketability. To determine the cause of the marks, and to reduce the number of fruits by suc...