PHEIDOLE ANTS AS POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL AGENTS OF THE BOLL-WEEVIL, ANTHONOMUS-GRANDIS (COL, CURCULIONIDAE), IN SOUTHEAST BRAZIL

This study evaluates the potential of ants as natural biological contr ol agents of the boil weevil (Anthonomus grandis), during the between- season period, in South-east Brazil. Active adults of Anthonomus were experimentally distributed on the ground of the cotton field. Results show that 20% of the adult Anthonomus are attacked and removed by fora ging ants. The native ant Pheidole oliveirai was by far the most effic ient predator, accounting for 94% of the predation on Anthonomus. Recr uited workers of P. oliveirai were usually very fast at transporting t he weevils to their nests. The potential benefit of suppressing overwi ntering adult Anthonomus during the between-season period is mainly th at of reducing the risk of high level infestations during the next cro pping cycle.