Interrelationship of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Southern Chinch Bugs (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) in Florida Lawns

The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, and ants were sampled at chinch bug infestations in southern Florida. Samples were obtained both by vacuuming and by flotation. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was found more frequently and in greater abundance at the infestations than any other ant species. Data also show that the introduction of exotic ant species has resulted in a large reduction in the relative abundance of native ant species in the urban environment of southern Florida. Ants have been reported as predators of southern chinch bugs. However, my data show that ants show little response to southern chinch bugs at the population level and probably are not important in controlling chinch bug populations.