Effects of Parasitism on the Population Growth of Toumeyella martinezae (Coccidae) in the Presence of Its Mutualistic Ant Liometopum apiculatum (Formicidae) in an Arid Region of Central Mexico

The soft scale <i>Toumeyella martinezae</i> infests the arborescent cactus <i>Myrtillocactus geometrizans</i>. This scale is, in turn, parasitized by the wasp <i>Mexidalgus toumeyellus</i> and forms a mutualistic relationship with the ant <i>Liometopum apiculatum</i>. This study assessed how ant and/or parasitoid presence influenced parasitism rates and the population growth of the scale insect. Experimental treatments included scale populations with ant access (control) or ant exclusion, and parasitoid exclusion with ant access. Scale population growth rates were estimated using Lefkovitch projection matrices, built based on the individual monitoring of approximately 5400 scales. The average parasitism rate was higher in the "with ants" treatment (18.66%) than under ant exclusion (5.42%). In the absence of parasitoids, the scale population growth rate (λ = 1.532) was 8% higher than in the control treatment (λ = 1.423). Population growth was negative (λ = 0.636) when ants were excluded. These results indicate that interaction with the mutualistic ant is the primary factor sustaining a positive scale population growth. In contrast, the impact of the parasitoid alone is insufficient for effectively controlling the soft scale pest.