Weaver ants and biocontrol of the nuisance pest luprops tristis (coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract

The utility of weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina Fabricius, 1775), and their potential in the control of agricultural pests, is highlighted. Comprehensive data on its habits, habitat requirements, foraging behaviour, social organisation involving polyethism and polydomous nesting behaviour, aggressiveness and recent establishment as an efficient biocontrol agent of the main insect pests in cashew, citrus and mango are listed. Identification of weaver ants as the sole arthropod predator that prey upon the nuisance pest Luprops tristis Fabricius, 1801, in rubber plantations and its possibility as an effective biocontrol agent to regulate the beetles are detailed. Lack of nesting trees in monoculture rubber plantations and the negative attitude of people towards weaver ants will hinder the establishment of weaver ants as an effective predator and biocontrol agent of L. tristis in rubber plantations.