Interactions of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) on Pineapple

Abstract

Ant and mealybug interactions were studied in a pineapple field near Honolua on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Big-headed ants (Pheidole megacephala (F.)) were found to have a positive association with gray pineapple mealybugs (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley) but no association with pink pineapple mealybugs (D. brevipes (Cockerell)). Sticky trap collections revealed that D. neobrevipes and D. brevipes are dispersed by the wind. Field experiments indicated that both species of mealybugs could establish on pineapple plants, even in the absence of ants. The positive association between P. megacephala and D. neobrevipes was not due to ants transporting mealybugs, but could have resulted from ants deterring natural enemies or removing honeydew.