Predaceous ant fauna present in natural sugarcane field plantations in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, was evaluated by using sardine baits sampling technique. Three-month-old sugarcane plants were used for ant fauna estimation in two sugarcane mills, São João and Barra Mill. Twelve 30m X 30 m (900 m²) plots were previously delimited in each sugarcane mill for ant sampling. Ants were sampled in each plot by placing nine sardine baits in 12 mm X 75 mm plastic tubes. In the São João Mill, the predominant ant species observed was Solenopsis saevissima, followed by Dorymyrmex sp. 1, Pheidole sp. 2, and Crematogaster sp. 1. Considering only ant genus, Solenopsis, Pheidole, Dorymyrmex, and Crematogaster, were predominant. In the Barra Mill, the predominant ant genus sampled was Solenopsis, followed by Pheidole, Crematogaster, and Dorymyrmex. As generalist predatory ants could be one of the reasons for the naturally low levels of D. saccharalis infestation on sugarcane in the state of São Paulo, this study could be helpful for the researchers to gain knowledge about the fauna of predaceous ants which acted as predators of eggs and early larval stages of D. saccharalis in Brazil.
Ants; predation; Diatraea saccharalis; sugarcane; Solenopsis; Pheidole
