Tuesday, December 11, 2001 - 4:30 PM
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Food preferences and foraging activity of the odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile Say, (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Laura Elise Barbani and Richard Fell. Virginia Tech, Department of Entomology, 216 Price Hall, Blacksburg, VA

ABSTRACT Macronutrient choice assays were preformed on Odorous House ants (Tapinoma sessile) to evaluate food preferences and food preference changes with respect to season. Various macrtonutrients were tested in the summer of 2000. Several different carbohydrates, proteins and lipids were tested in both liquid and gel form. Preliminary results indicate preferences for carbohydrates (sucrose, fructose and glucose respectively) over protein and lipids. Results from foraging activity studies also indicate continuous activity through out the day and night at a constant temperature of 25 *C. However, data collected in the spring of 2001 indicate a drop in activity with decreasing temperatures.

Keywords: odorous house ant

The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA