Red Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus F. Smith; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Preference for Cover Crop Seeds in South Texas

Harvester ants often selectively forage seeds, causing these to be viewed as pests in agricultural areas where they may on crop seeds. While little research has been done harvester ant preferences for cover grower observations the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) suggest that remove seeds before germination. We examined red (Pogonomyrmex barbatus F. Smith) (fescue, oat, sunn hemp, radish, vetch, and wheatgrass) effects of a commonly used bacterial seed inoculant. evaluated relative using depots presented colonies with no prior exposure selected or inoculants. After 24 h, had removed oat radish at same rate preferred wheatgrass control. Fescue, vetch were less preferred. The inoculation did not alter removal rates. Further, both trials was dependent month temperature, indicating potential interactions colony activity levels, availability bank, intensity removal. Together, data indicate foraging seasonal should considered help mitigate predation crops via planting times lower intensity.