Journal Article

Energy Reserve Composition of Host-Plant-Specific Weaver Ant (Oecophylla Longinoda) in a Savanna Fruit-Tree Plantation, in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The energy reserve composition of a host-plant-specific weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) in a savanna fruit-tree plantation, in Lapai Niger State Nigeria was investigated using standard methods and procedures. Weaver ants are known to prey on small insects and supplement their diet with carbohydrate-rich honeydew excreted by small insects. Four host plant species were sampled for collecting weaver ant species and they include Mango (Mangifera indica), Mahogany (khaya senegalensis), Cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale), and Shea Butter trees (Vitellaria paradoxa). Teneral reserve content (glucose and glycogen (μg/individual)) of larva, pupa, and adult recorded some variation as life stages changed with pupa recording significant P<0.05 highest concentration of both glucose and glycogen. O. longinoida pupa recovered from Cashew, mahogany, mango, and Shea butter trees was 27.00±5.11, 16.87±1.23 and 38.56±2.78 and 22.30±0.00 μg/individual life stage for glucose respectively. Whereas glycogen concentration was 48.59±2.78, 54.23±2.66, 160.84±10.97 and 59.14±1.98 μg/individual respectively. This study has placed O. longinoida in a clear perspective as a good source of carbohydrate (glucose and glycogen) in their life stages (larva, pupa, and adult) and could be incorporated into human and animal feed formulation. However, further studies on repellency activity and deterrence of weaver ant extract should be carried out on other higher invertebrates such as snails, nematodes, and others, since they have established a record of bio-control potentials for a long time.

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