Abstract
Success of an invasive organism depends on the level of biotic resistance from native species. Understanding the mechanism of biotic resistance is critical to the management of invasive species, but such case studies are sparse. Native to parts of Asia and Russia, the red-necked longhorn beetle Aromia bungii (Faldermann) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) recently invaded Germany, Italy, and Japan, causing serious damage to Rosaceae trees. To identify any specific mechanism of biotic resistance to A. bungii, we investigated whether Japanese native ants play a role in the biotic resistance through predation, because ants can impact many arthropods as generalist predators. In laboratory experiments, A. bungii eggs or hatchlings were offered to four ant species. Three species exhibited predatory behaviors toward the eggs within 30 min, and obvious damage was confirmed on the eggs within 2 days. Two ant species fatally damaged hatchlings within 30 min. In field surveys, we found a negative correlation between the number of A. bungii frass-ejection holes and the number of collected ants on tree trunks. These results suggested that Japanese native ant fauna can play a certain role in biotic resistance to A. bungii.
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Acknowledgements
Shuji Kaneko of Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries, Osaka Prefecture, provided us with a study site for a preliminary field survey. Fussa City provided us with a study site in Tokyo. Masahiko Tokoro, Hiroshi Kitajima, Haruo Kinuura, Takuma Takanashi, and colleagues of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute gave us helpful advice. Anonymous reviewers gave us thoughtful and constructive comments. Reina Koganemaru and Kou Hakley helped with English in some sections. This study was supported by grants from the Project of Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (Research program on development of innovative technology: 30023C).
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Sunamura, E., Tamura, S., Urano, T. et al. Predation of invasive red-necked longhorn beetle Aromia bungii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) eggs and hatchlings by native ants in Japan. Appl Entomol Zool 55, 291–298 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-020-00681-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-020-00681-y