Do weaver ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) marks affect mango internal quality and storage life?

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Entomology
• Horticulture
• Plant Pathology

Background:

• Integrated pest management (IPM) in mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) utilizes weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina F.) in Australia.
• Farmers question if weaver ant marks impact mango fruit quality and induce rot.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of weaver ant marks on internal fruit quality (soluble sugar content).
• To observe the incidence of fruit rot on mangoes with weaver ant marks during storage.

Main Methods:

• Quantified soluble sugar content in mangoes with varying degrees of weaver ant marks.
• Monitored fruit for signs of rot during storage.
• Compared sugar content between IPM treatments (weaver ants + soft chemicals) and conventional insecticide treatments.

Main Results:

• Mangoes with larger areas of weaver ant marks exhibited higher soluble sugar content.
• Weaver ant treatments resulted in higher sugar content compared to insecticide treatments.
• No diffuse rot originated from weaver ant marks; untreated areas developed rot.

Conclusions:

• Weaver ant marks are positively correlated with enhanced internal fruit quality.
• Weaver ant marks do not induce fruit rot and can serve as an indicator of improved fruit safety.
• This study supports the use of weaver ants in IPM for mangoes without compromising fruit quality.