Mony, R., Kenne, M., Orivel, J., & DeJean, A. 2002 Biology and ecology of pest ants of the genus Melissotarsus (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with special reference to tropical fruit tree attacks.. Sociobiology 40(3): 645-654.

Notes: We show in this study that Melissotarsus beccarii and M. weissi, two myrmicine species, are pest ants that dig galleries in the bark of trees in order to nest and attend Diaspididae (Hemiptera). Among the trees attacked figure species of economical importance such as Mangifera indica (mango tree; Anacardiaceae), Dacryodes edulis (safoo tree), and Aucoumea klaineana (okoume); both latter species Burseraceae). The extent of the damage is due to large polygynous colonies with a monomorphic worker caste. Indeed, we estimated that a safoo tree supported a M. beccarii colony of 1,585,000 individuals (larvae included) attending 556,000 Diaspis sp., while two mango trees supported 412,000 and 361,000 M. weissi individuals attending 405,000 and 330,000 Morganella pseudospinigera, respectively. During a survey conducted on 185 safoo and 513 mango trees we noted that most old, large trees were attacked, while young trees, apparently, were not. Bimonthly samplings of bark permitted us to note the year round presence of winged sexuals in mature M. beccarii colonies; the periods of higher presence of females and males being globally the same. On the contrary, we noted an asynchrony in the presence of winged females and males in M. weissi, a situation probably related to a strategy favoring intercolonial mating. Although the production of females was widespread throughout the year, founding queens were mostly observed between March and June (rainy season), suggesting that during the other seasons mated females join their nests.