NATIVE VERSUS EXOTIC ANTS AS A FOOD SOURCE FOR THE ANT LION, (Myrmeleon crudelis)

Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant originally from South America, has become an important exotic pest in the southeastern US. Solenopsis invicta is well known for its powerful sting and are known to attack native wildlife, such as hatchling sea turtles. I examined the suitability of S. invicta as prey for a native antlion, Myrmeleon crudelis, in South Florida. I compared the growth and survival over 12 week period of 16 ant lions fed S. invicta and 16 fed a native pyramid ant, Dorymyrmex bureni. I found antlions fed S. invicta had significantly lower growth and survival than antlions fed D. bureni. Thus, S. invicta does not appear to be suitable prey for M. crudelis, and may have a negative impact on M. crudelis in areas where it invades.