Scientific name
Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius)What it does
Ants feed on rice seeds and seedlings.
Their feeding damage cause rice seeds or plants to be missing. It also affects plant stand, and increases the incidence of diseases vectored by other insects such as planthoppers, leafhoppers, mealybugs, and aphids.
Why and where it occurs
Ants mainly occur in the upland fields where they nest below the soil surface. In rainfed wetland fields, they are confined to rice levees or bunds.
Ants damage the field in patches. They usually feed on plant during seedling stage.
How to identify
Check for missing plants and loss of plant stand.
These damages are also similar to feeding symptoms of mole cricket. To distinguish, check for the presence of the insect.
Ants are often found in damaged area. Seeds may be found in their underground nests.
How to manage
To reduce impact of ant damage, increase seeding rate.
Ants are hosts to nematodes, fungi, phorid flies, strepsipterans, and eucharitine wasps. They are also prey to birds, snakes, bull frog, and ground lizards.
Learn more
View full fact sheet: Ants on IRRI Rice Knowledge Bank