Summary
The imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta, has a highly efficient mechanism for filtering particles from food material. Latex microspheres as small as 0.88 μm were filtered and concentrated in the infrabuccal pocket. The compacted mass was then ejected as a pellet. The maximum size latex spheres swallowed by larvæ were 45.8 μm, which approximately corresponds to the diameter of the larval esophagus. The efficient filtration of particles offers little hope for the success of controlled release insecticide formulations that require ingestion of solid particles.
Zusammenfassung
Die importierte Fenerameise hat einen besonders wirksamen Mechanismus Fremdpartikelchen die in der Nahrung anwesend sind zu filtrieren. Latex Partikelchen von 0.88 μm Durchmesser wurden im infrabukalen Beutel filtriert und eingeengt. Die kompakte Masse wurde nachher als Kügelchen ausgestossen. Die von den Larven verschluckten Latex Kügelchen hatten einen Durchmesser, der eine Länge von 45.8 μm erreichen Konnte und dem Durchmesser der Speiseröhre der Larven entsprach. Die wirksame Filtrierung der Partikelchen bietet wenig Hoffnung auf Erfolg das Durchlassen der Kontrollierten Insektenvertilgungsmittel zu gestatten, wenn sie in harter Form verabreicht werden müssen.
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Glancey, B.M., Vander Meer, R.K., Glover, A. et al. Filtration of microparticles from liquids ingested by the red imported fire antSolenopsis invicta Buren. Ins. Soc 28, 395–401 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224196
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224196