Impact of the Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant (Atta texana (Buckley) (Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae) on a Forested Landscape

David Kulhavy; L. A. Smith; W. G. Ross

Impact of the Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant (Atta texana (Buckley) (Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae) on a Forested Landscape

David Kulhavy, L. A. Smith, W. G. Ross

Forestry

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

Atta texana (Buckley), the Texas leaf-cutting ant, rapidly expanded in a harvested forested landscape on sandhills characterized by droughty soils, causing mortality of planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda (L.)). The site, composed primarily of Quartzipsamments soils classified as thermic coated Typic Quartzipsamments in the Tonkawa soil series, accounts for approximately 5,000 ha in Nacogdoches, Rusk, Panola, and San Augustine Counties in eastern Texas, USA (Dolezel 1980). These soils are characterized by low fertility, rapid permeability, and extreme acid reaction. These sandhills are resistant to erosion and are considered important ground water recharge areas. The distribution of A. texana central nest mounds and foraging areas was examined using aerial photography, digital orthophotographic quarter quadrangles (DOQQ) (scale 1:6000), and global positioning satellite (GPS) data. Plant nutrition of A. texana nesting areas was examined. Previous soil texture analysis of the central nest mound and adjacent landscapes is presented.

Original language	Undefined/Unknown
State	Published - Jan 1 2001

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Impact of the Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant (Atta texana (Buckley) (Orde

http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/forestry/416

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title = "Impact of the Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant (Atta texana (Buckley) (Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae) on a Forested Landscape",

abstract = "Atta texana (Buckley), the Texas leaf-cutting ant, rapidly expanded in a harvested forested landscape on sandhills characterized by droughty soils, causing mortality of planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda (L.)). The site, composed primarily of Quartzipsamments soils classified as thermic coated Typic Quartzipsamments in the Tonkawa soil series, accounts for approximately 5,000 ha in Nacogdoches, Rusk, Panola, and San Augustine Counties in eastern Texas, USA (Dolezel 1980). These soils are characterized by low fertility, rapid permeability, and extreme acid reaction. These sandhills are resistant to erosion and are considered important ground water recharge areas. The distribution of A. texana central nest mounds and foraging areas was examined using aerial photography, digital orthophotographic quarter quadrangles (DOQQ) (scale 1:6000), and global positioning satellite (GPS) data. Plant nutrition of A. texana nesting areas was examined. Previous soil texture analysis of the central nest mound and adjacent landscapes is presented.",

author = "David Kulhavy and Smith, {L. A.} and Ross, {W. G.}",

year = "2001",

month = jan,

day = "1",

language = "Undefined/Unknown",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Impact of the Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant (Atta texana (Buckley) (Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae) on a Forested Landscape

AU - Kulhavy, David

AU - Smith, L. A.

AU - Ross, W. G.

PY - 2001/1/1

Y1 - 2001/1/1

N2 - Atta texana (Buckley), the Texas leaf-cutting ant, rapidly expanded in a harvested forested landscape on sandhills characterized by droughty soils, causing mortality of planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda (L.)). The site, composed primarily of Quartzipsamments soils classified as thermic coated Typic Quartzipsamments in the Tonkawa soil series, accounts for approximately 5,000 ha in Nacogdoches, Rusk, Panola, and San Augustine Counties in eastern Texas, USA (Dolezel 1980). These soils are characterized by low fertility, rapid permeability, and extreme acid reaction. These sandhills are resistant to erosion and are considered important ground water recharge areas. The distribution of A. texana central nest mounds and foraging areas was examined using aerial photography, digital orthophotographic quarter quadrangles (DOQQ) (scale 1:6000), and global positioning satellite (GPS) data. Plant nutrition of A. texana nesting areas was examined. Previous soil texture analysis of the central nest mound and adjacent landscapes is presented.

AB - Atta texana (Buckley), the Texas leaf-cutting ant, rapidly expanded in a harvested forested landscape on sandhills characterized by droughty soils, causing mortality of planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda (L.)). The site, composed primarily of Quartzipsamments soils classified as thermic coated Typic Quartzipsamments in the Tonkawa soil series, accounts for approximately 5,000 ha in Nacogdoches, Rusk, Panola, and San Augustine Counties in eastern Texas, USA (Dolezel 1980). These soils are characterized by low fertility, rapid permeability, and extreme acid reaction. These sandhills are resistant to erosion and are considered important ground water recharge areas. The distribution of A. texana central nest mounds and foraging areas was examined using aerial photography, digital orthophotographic quarter quadrangles (DOQQ) (scale 1:6000), and global positioning satellite (GPS) data. Plant nutrition of A. texana nesting areas was examined. Previous soil texture analysis of the central nest mound and adjacent landscapes is presented.

M3 - Paper

ER -