Wen, J., Xiao, L., Zou, Y., Chen, K., Lu, Y., Fu, L., Weng, Y., & Cao, F. 2024 Fire ants mediate competition between scale insects and fruit flies. Ecological Entomology https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13377
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Notes: Our objective was to reveal the interaction between P. lilacinus and B. dorsalis and to explore the underlying chemical mechanisms mediated by the ant. Initially, we conducted field surveys to assess if the population dynamics of P. lilacinus and B. dorsalis were influenced by S. invicta. Subsequently, we established a series of laboratory rearing scenarios to examine the relationship among them and how the presence of ants affects their interaction. We extracted the P. lilacinus honeydew and ant semiochemicals and tested the responses of ants and B. dorsalis to these substances. Utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), we identified the chemicals. Finally, we investigated the responses of S. invicta and B. dorsalis to the identified chemicals.
