ABSTRACT
Injury of the ant Solenopsis gayi (Spinola) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on citrus (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) in the 4th Region of Chile

Patricia Larraín L.1, Joaquín Ipínza-Regla2 y Pablo Álvarez L.1
 

The presence and injury of Solenopsis gayi (Spinola) was observed on young trees of Citrus reticulata (Blanco), and on plants of Solanum muricatum (Ait.) during the 1994/95 growing season. The ants damage on citrus, consisted in removing the outer bark from roots and trunks, causing even the death of some young trees. In pepino the ants gnaw the roots and stems of the plants.

Keywords: ants, citrus, Citrus reticulata, pepino, Solanum muricatum, Solenopsis gayi.
1 Centro Regional lntihuasi (INIA), Casilla 36/B, La Serena, Chile.
2 Facultad de Ciencias Silvoagropecuarias. Universidad Mayor, Camino la Pirámide 5750, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile.