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Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is a disease of great concern to many horse owners in the Potomac River area of Maryland and Virginia. It is caused by a rickettsia, Ehrlichia risticii. The involvement of an arthropod vector has been suspected because of the seasonal epidemiology of the disease. This research was an attempt to identify and evaluate potential arthropod vectors. A seasonal activity study of biting arthropods attacking horses in endemic areas of Maryland and Virginia identified five potential vectors: (1) Simulium jenningsi (Diptera: Simuliidae), (2) Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), (3) Culicoides obsoletus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), (4) C. variipennis, and (5) Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). These five arthropod species were given status as potential vectors because they were collected feeding on horses just prior to and throughout the PHF season. Simulium jenningsi and D. variabilis have the closest seasonal association with the occurrence of PHF as presented in this study. D. variabilis was determined to have the greatest potential due to its reported association with other rickettsial diseases. A series of laboratory and field studies were designed to examine the potential role of D. variabilis in the transmission of E. risticii. We first attempted to transmit E. risticii by feeding adult D. variabilis collected from an endemic farm on susceptible horses. Other laboratory studies included mouse to horse and mouse to mouse transmission attempts using ticks fed on mice inoculated with E. risticii. A serological survey of 105 trapped field rodents (host of immature D. variabilis) on endemic farms in Maryland showed all specimens collected to be negative for PHF antibodies. These studies and others gave no indication of D. variabilis's involvement in the transmission of the disease in nature. The other species mentioned above were not examined. / Ph. D.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:26:46Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 fox_egp_dr_rcla.pdf: 11908045 bytes, checksum: 51950c150a0c19f5015ed7839fd628c3 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / A formiga lava-pés Solenopsis saevissima Smith está entre os insetos que mais causam acidentes no Brasil, e é uma espécie pouco estudada. A presente série de investigações tenta suprir um pouco da necessidade de estudos com esta importante espécie no Brasil. Primeiramente são relatados detalhes da biologia de S. saevissima em comparação com outras espécies de formigas lava-pés: pela primeira vez é mostrada uma lista de artrópodes associados a estes formigueiros no Brasil, incluindo uma série de novos táxons, dos quais um é aqui descrito; as larvas desta espécie são descritas e comparadas com o que se sabe sobre as larvas de outras lava-pés, sendo visto que as semelhanças encontradas são extensas demais para permitir a utilização de caracteres larvais para filogenia e taxonomia em nível de espécie. Ainda na morfologia, são apresentados resultados de análise ultraestrutural do aparato de veneno por meio de microscopia ótica e eletrônica, onde é mostrado que as diferentes regiões do órgão apresentam especializações para a produção de cada um dos compostos do veneno. A composição do veneno desta espécie foi analisada pela primeira vez, onde verificou-se que acima de 90% do veneno de S. saevissima é composto de isômeros cis e tras de um mesmo alcalóide piperidinico oleoso, sendo o restante uma solução aquosa de toxinas protéicas, incluindo neurotoxinas, fosfolipases, e alérgenos. De uma forma geral, o veneno de S. saevissima tem uma diversidade menor de compostos que o de Solenopsis invicta, podendo figurar entre os motivos que explicam porque a espécie S. invicta é uma espécie invasora e S. saevissima não. São apresentados pela primeira vez evidências químicas da existência de espécies crítpticas dentro de S. saevissima. Tomados em conjunto, os resultados suprem um pouco da carência de estudos com as formigas lava-pés... / The fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith is one of the insects most frequently involved in accidents in Brazil, yet being a poorly studied species. The series of studies presented here aimed at filling some of this gap in knowledge about this common and important ant species. Some aspects of the field biology of S. saevissima are shown in comparison with other fire ants: a unique list of associated arthropods collected from field inspections in Southern Brazil is given, which includes several new taxa, one of which is herein described for the first time. The larvae of S. saevissima are described for the first time and compared with larvae from close species, culminating with the demonstration that larval characters within this group cannot be feasibly employed in species-level phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses. In terms of internal anatomy, a detailed ultrastructural description of the venom apparatus of S. saevissima is given, wherein special emphasis was given to the particular organisation of each region of the apparatus, suggesting there are specialised areas for the production of each venom compound. The venom of this species was subject of biochemical analyses for the first time, generally illustrating that the venom of S. saevissima is >90% made of a simple mixture of cis- and trasundecil- pyperidinic alkaloids, being the remainder an aqueous solution of toxic proteins, comprising neurotoxins, and traces of phospholipases and allergens. The venom of S. saevissima proved being less diverse in toxins than the venom of Solenopsis invicta, possibly explaining why S. invicta is a successful invasive species while S. saevissima apparently is not. Moreover, herein is included the first record of intraspecific variation in the nature of venom alkaloids, providing biochemical evidence for the existence of cryptic species in S. saevissima. Taken together, the obtained... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 537077 bytes, checksum: 87b9c3bc305f8241b417b885c367acb1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Several papers have been published recently to investigate the relationship between ecosystem functioning and biodiversity, even though a conclusive position regarding this subject is still lacking. This study tests the relationship between litter decomposition and nutrient release rates with litter arthropod species richness and composition. The hypotheses that (i) sites with higher litter arthropod species richness have higher decomposition and nutrient release rates, and (ii) litter arthropod species composition affects decomposition and nutrient release rates were tested, in a secondary re-growth forest in Brazil. Litter decomposition rates did not respond to litter arthropod species richness, suggesting a redundancy between arthropod species. This may signify that litter arthropod community is composed by groups of species that play similar roles in ecosystem functioning, so that the increase of species richness does not translate into changes of decomposition rates. On the other hand, there are group compositions that disfavor decomposition rates. When the mite groups Laelapidae and Trombidiinae, both composed of predator species, were present, there was a decrease of litter decomposition rates. These two groups could be considered as key-species, because they could decrease the abundance of several other groups that take part on the decomposition process. Concluding, even though several species apparently play similar roles on the decomposition process, there are some key-species that influence more dramatically the ecosystem process here analyzed. / Atualmente diversos trabalhos têm investigado a relação entre biodiversidade e funcionamento dos ecossistemas. Apesar disso ainda não há uma posição conclusiva quanto ao assunto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se há relação entre a riqueza e a composição de espécies de artrópodes de serapilheira e as taxas de decomposição e liberação de nutrientes. Para isso duas hipóteses foram testadas: (i) locais com maior riqueza de espécies de artrópodes de serapilheira têm maior taxa de decomposição e de liberação de nutrientes; (ii) a composição específica da comunidade de artrópodes de serapilheira afeta a taxa de decomposição e de liberação de nutrientes. A taxa de decomposição não respondeu significativamente à riqueza de espécies de artrópodes. Esse resultado sugere que há redundância entre as espécies de artrópodes, ou seja, a comunidade de artrópode estudada provavelmente é composta por grupos de espécies que têm papéis similares, de maneira que o aumento na riqueza não se traduz em modificação no funcionamento do ecossistema. Além disso, a composição específica do grupo de ácaros Laelapidae e Trombidiidae mostrou influência negativa sobre a taxa de decomposição, o que pode ser justificado devido ao hábito alimentar que os mesmos apresentam. Nesse caso, os dois grupos de ácaros poderiam ser exemplos de grupos-chave, uma vez que sua presença implica na diminuição significativa da taxa de decomposição. Dessa maneira, conclui-se que embora a maioria das espécies apresente papéis similares, existem espécieschave que podem estar presentes, desempenhando papel importante no funcionamento dos ecossistemas.

L’empreinte écologique de l’homme sur les milieux naturels forestiers d’Afrique centrale n’a cessé de s’accroître au cours des dernières décennies, et rares sont les écosystèmes qui ne sont pas exploités. Ainsi, même des milieux a priori hostiles comme les grottes constituent des ressources répondant aux besoins primaires des populations environnantes (chasse, pêche, lieu de culte), mais permettant également le développement d’activités économiques (exploitation minière et écotourisme). Cette anthropisation est susceptible d’augmenter l’exposition des populations humaines à une multitude d'agents infectieux circulant au sein de la faune cavernicole. La présence d'animaux sauvages ou domestiques dans l'environnement immédiat des grottes contribue également à augmenter un tel risque. Parmi ces agents infectieux, certains peuvent être transmis par contact direct avec le réservoir animal, d’autres peuvent nécessiter l’intervention d’insectes hématophages. Le rôle de ces insectes dans l'épidémiologie de nombreux pathogènes est bien connu en Afrique en milieux épigés, mais demeure largement sous-investigué dans les environnements cavernicoles. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes proposés de réponde à cette problématique. Dans six grottes du Gabon nous avons entrepris une étude de la diversité des diptères hématophages, en réalisant un inventaire taxonomique et l'étude de la dynamique temporelle des assemblages d'espèces. Dans un second temps, nous avons entrepris un criblage moléculaire d'agents infectieux parasitaires, bactériens et viraux en ayant recours à des techniques de détection par PCR nichée et séquençage à haut débit.Les travaux menés nous ont permis de réaliser un inventaire taxonomique de la faune diptérienne hématophage colonisant les grottes explorées. Notre étude a permis de découvrir une part importante de sa diversité de diptères hématophages cavernicoles, représentant plus de 60% des espèces de diptères (tout milieux confondus) actuellement au Gabon. Nos données ont montré que la composition des communautés de diptères était différente d'une grotte à une autre, et que ces dernières présentaient des variations au cours du temps en lien avec les variations microclimatiques des grottes. Le criblage d'agents infectieux chez les diptères collectés a permis 1) d'explorer la diversité parasitaire, virale et bactérienne qu'ils hébergent et 2) d'évaluer leur implication dans la transmission / The man's ecological mark on natural forest environments of central Africa has been increasing in recent decades, and only few natural areas remain non exploited yet. Thus, even supposedly hostile environments such as caves meet the primary needs of surrounding populations (hunting, fishing, shamanic practices), or economical needs (mining and ecotourism). That anthropization is likely to increase the exposure of human populations to multiple infectious agents carried by cave fauna. The presence of wild or domestic animals in the surroundings of caves also increase that risk. Among these infectious agents, some can be transmitted by direct contact with animal reservoirs, whereas others may require the involvement of blood-sucking insects. The role of these insects in the epidemiology of many pathogens is well known in Africa, particularly in epigeic environments, but remains largely investigated in caves. In this thesis work, we proposed to address that issue. In six caves of Gabon we firstly explored the diversity of blood-sucking Diptera, and we studied temporal dynamics of species assemblages. Secondly, we undertook a molecular screening of haemosporidia, bacteria and viruses using nested PCR and high-throughput sequencing.The work carried out has enable to make a taxonomic inventory of the Diptera fauna of the investigated caves. Our study revealed a significant diversity of the blood-sucking Diptera fauna, accounting for more than 60 percent of blood-sucking Diptera species currently known in Gabon, in all types of areas. Our data showed that the composition of Diptera communities was different from one cave to another, and that Diptera assemblages varied over time according to micro-climate fluctuations within caves. The screening of infectious agents in Diptera collected helped 1) to explore the parasitic, viral and bacterial diversity they host, and 2) to assess their involvement in transmission.

Orientador: Odair Correa Bueno / Banca: Ednildo de Alcantara Machado / Banca: Ana Yoshi Harada / Banca: Jacenir Reis dos Santos Mallet / Banca: Neusa de Lima Nogueira / Resumo: A formiga lava-pés Solenopsis saevissima Smith está entre os insetos que mais causam acidentes no Brasil, e é uma espécie pouco estudada. A presente série de investigações tenta suprir um pouco da necessidade de estudos com esta importante espécie no Brasil. Primeiramente são relatados detalhes da biologia de S. saevissima em comparação com outras espécies de formigas lava-pés: pela primeira vez é mostrada uma lista de artrópodes associados a estes formigueiros no Brasil, incluindo uma série de novos táxons, dos quais um é aqui descrito; as larvas desta espécie são descritas e comparadas com o que se sabe sobre as larvas de outras lava-pés, sendo visto que as semelhanças encontradas são extensas demais para permitir a utilização de caracteres larvais para filogenia e taxonomia em nível de espécie. Ainda na morfologia, são apresentados resultados de análise ultraestrutural do aparato de veneno por meio de microscopia ótica e eletrônica, onde é mostrado que as diferentes regiões do órgão apresentam especializações para a produção de cada um dos compostos do veneno. A composição do veneno desta espécie foi analisada pela primeira vez, onde verificou-se que acima de 90% do veneno de S. saevissima é composto de isômeros cis e tras de um mesmo alcalóide piperidinico oleoso, sendo o restante uma solução aquosa de toxinas protéicas, incluindo neurotoxinas, fosfolipases, e alérgenos. De uma forma geral, o veneno de S. saevissima tem uma diversidade menor de compostos que o de Solenopsis invicta, podendo figurar entre os motivos que explicam porque a espécie S. invicta é uma espécie invasora e S. saevissima não. São apresentados pela primeira vez evidências químicas da existência de espécies crítpticas dentro de S. saevissima. Tomados em conjunto, os resultados suprem um pouco da carência de estudos com as formigas lava-pés... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The fire ant Solenopsis saevissima Smith is one of the insects most frequently involved in accidents in Brazil, yet being a poorly studied species. The series of studies presented here aimed at filling some of this gap in knowledge about this common and important ant species. Some aspects of the field biology of S. saevissima are shown in comparison with other fire ants: a unique list of associated arthropods collected from field inspections in Southern Brazil is given, which includes several new taxa, one of which is herein described for the first time. The larvae of S. saevissima are described for the first time and compared with larvae from close species, culminating with the demonstration that larval characters within this group cannot be feasibly employed in species-level phylogenetic and taxonomic analyses. In terms of internal anatomy, a detailed ultrastructural description of the venom apparatus of S. saevissima is given, wherein special emphasis was given to the particular organisation of each region of the apparatus, suggesting there are specialised areas for the production of each venom compound. The venom of this species was subject of biochemical analyses for the first time, generally illustrating that the venom of S. saevissima is >90% made of a simple mixture of cis- and trasundecil- pyperidinic alkaloids, being the remainder an aqueous solution of toxic proteins, comprising neurotoxins, and traces of phospholipases and allergens. The venom of S. saevissima proved being less diverse in toxins than the venom of Solenopsis invicta, possibly explaining why S. invicta is a successful invasive species while S. saevissima apparently is not. Moreover, herein is included the first record of intraspecific variation in the nature of venom alkaloids, providing biochemical evidence for the existence of cryptic species in S. saevissima. Taken together, the obtained... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: Arício Xavier Linhares / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T01:31:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernandes_FernandaRodrigues_D.pdf: 1975248 bytes, checksum: d23780751c399131a44ca6f88c69adb5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Parasitismo é considerado uma interação interespecífica antagonística, em que uma espécie (parasito) vive dentro ou sobre outra espécie (hospedeiro), obtendo dela parte de, ou todos seus nutrientes e em geral, causa algum grau de injúria à espécie hospedeira. Por um processo coevolutivo, os artrópodes parasitos desenvolveram mecanismos para aumentar sua aptidão explorando seus hospedeiros mamíferos, por outro lado, estes se esforçam para maximizar sua própria aptidão, minimizando o efeito negativo da infestação por parasitos. Devido muitos padrões da ecologia dos parasitos estarem intimamente ligados à ecologia do hospedeiro, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a influência do sexo, tamanho corporal e local de ocorrência dos hospedeiros na abundância de ectoparasitos, bem como, a influência da filogenia e sobreposição geográfica dos hospedeiros na similaridade de fauna de ectoparasitos. Os principais resultados obtidos foram: 1. A abundância de ectoparasitos Anoplura em Oligoryzomys nigripes é influenciada pelo sexo e local de ocorrência do hospedeiro; 2. A abundância de ectoparasitos Acari (Mesostigmata) em Oligoryzomys nigripes é influenciada pela massa corporal do hospedeiro; 3. As similaridades das faunas de ectoparasitos estão correlacionadas com a filogenia dos hospedeiros / Abstract: Parasitism is considered an antagonistic interspecific interaction where one species (the parasite) lives in or on another species (the host) obtaining part of or all of its nutrients and normally causing some degree of injury to the host. Through the coevolutionary process, arthropod parasites have developed mechanisms to increase their fitness by exploiting their mammalian hosts, on the other hand, the hosts strive to maximize its own fitness by minimizing negative effects of infestation by parasites. Because many patterns of parasite ecology is intimately related to the ecology of the host, this study aimed to investigate the influence of host sex, body size and locality in ectoparasite abundance, as well as, the influence of phylogeny and geographical overlap of the hosts in ectoparasite fauna similarity. The main results are: 1. The abundance of Anoplura ectoparasites on Oligoryzomys nigripes is influenced by host sex and locality; 2. The abundance of Acari (Mesostigmata) ectoparasites on Oligoryzomys nigripes is influenced by host body mass; 3. The similarities of ectoparasite fauna is correlated with host phylogeny / Doutorado / Doutor em Ecologia

Les répulsifs sont des molécules naturelles ou synthétiques dont le but estd’empêcher l’approche des arthropodes afin de prévenir la transmission demaladies vectorisées. Un exemple type est celui de la transmission de Leishmaniainfantum responsable de la Leishmaniose canine, qui est contractée après la piqûre d’un chienpar un phlébotome. Divers répulsifs d’arthropodes sont commercialisés pour une applicationtopique, ils ont tous une durée d’action courte, imposant des applications répétées deformulations basiques de type solution.La formulation de molécules actives à propriétés répulsives incorporées dans des systèmesnanoparticulaires et présentant une action prolongée dans le temps a été retenue. Lesnanoparticules sont des vecteurs colloïdaux intéressants dans le domaine de la technologiepharmaceutique vu leur capacité à former des complexes avec des molécules hydrophobes,telles que la plupart des molécules répulsives (DEET, Picaridin®, IR3535®…). Le ciblage, laprotection contre la dégradation et le contrôle de la libération sont les avantages principauxapportés par les nanoparticules contenant une matière active.Les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des nanoparticules (taille et potentiel zêta) permettantleur stockage dans les couches supérieures de la peau et une accroche le long des fibrespileuses ont été déterminées. Ainsi des nanoparticules cationiques de 200 nm de diamètre ontété formulées. Cette formulation originale inspirée du procédé de nanoprécipitation a permisl’obtention en une seule étape de suspensions concentrées en matière active (concentrationsupérieure à 10%) et sans ajout d’agents stabilisants. Une corrélation entre les profils delibération et l’efficacité sur insecte modèle (la drosophile) a été vérifiée. De ce fait, lepourcentage en polymère régule la libération de la molécule active encapsulée. Une efficacitérépulsive de formulations nanoparticulaires supérieure à 15 jours a été validéeexpérimentalement. La transposition d’échelle du procédé de nanoprécipitation permetd’envisager un développement industriel pour la formulation d’un répulsif d’arthropodeinnovant à longue durée d’action. / The repellents are natural or synthetic molecules whose aim is to prevent theapproach of arthropods to avoid transmission of vector-borne diseases. A typicalexample is the transmission of Leishmania infantum responsible for canineLeishmaniasis, which is contracted after a sandfly bite on a dog. The arthropod repellentsmarketed for topical application have all a short action duration, requiring repeatedapplications of basic formulations (solution).The formulation of active molecules having repellent properties, incorporated intonanoparticle systems and having a prolonged action in time was selected. Nanoparticles arecolloidal carriers interesting in the pharmaceutical technology field due to their ability to formcomplexes with hydrophobic molecules, such as repellent molecules (DEET, Picaridin®,IR3535®...). Targeting, protection against degradation and control of the release are the mainadvantages provided by the nanoparticles containing an active ingredient.The nanoparticle physicochemical characteristics (size and zeta potential) permitting theirstorage in the upper dog skin layers and a along the hairs were determined. For that reasoncationic nanoparticles of 200 nm in diameter were formulated. This original formulationinspired from the nanoprecipitation process has allowed us to obtain one single stepconcentrated suspensions (above 10% of active molecules in the final product) and withoutstabilizer addition. A correlation between the release profiles and the effectiveness of modelinsect (Drosophila) has been verified. Therefore the percentage of polymer regulates therelease of encapsulated active molecules. Repellent efficacy of nanoparticulate formulationgreater than 15 days has been validated experimentally. The scale transposition of thenanoprecipitation process makes conceivable an industrial development for the formulation ofan innovative arthropod repellent having a long lasting effect.

Dans les agroécosystèmes, la biodiversité fonctionnelle et la biodiversité associée fournissent de nombreux services à l'homme dont la pollinisation, la régulation biologique et le cycle des nutriments. L'association des cultures est une pratique agricole qui augmente la diversité des plantes dans les agroécosystèmes, fournit des ressources alimentaires alternatives et structure les communautés des arthropodes. Elle favorise les prédateurs généralistes pour la régulation biologique des ravageurs. Cette étude vise à comprendre comment la diversité des plantes, à l'échelle de la parcelle, structure les réseaux trophiques des arthropodes et peut participer à améliorer la régulation biologique des ravageurs. Tout d'abord, une méta-analyse a été réalisée afin de rechercher la relation générale liant la diversité végétale considérée à l'échelle locale et le contrôle des insectes ravageurs par les prédateurs généralistes. Ensuite, sur un réseau de 20 parcelles paysannes de la région de Njombé au Cameroun, nous avons étudié l'effet de la diversité des plantes cultivées sur la structure du réseau trophique des arthropodes. Les résultats ont montré que l'abondance des prédateurs était positivement corrélée avec la diversité des plantes alors que celle des herbivores était négativement corrélée avec la diversité des plantes. L'effet inverse de la diversité des plantes sur les abondances des prédateurs et des herbivores suggère que des effets top-down structurent la communauté des arthropodes dans les parcelles de plantain. Enfin, l'effet de trois cultures couramment associées au plantain (maïs Zea mays, macabo Xanthosoma sagittifolium, et pistache Lagenaria siceraria) sur i) la structure de la communauté des fourmis et ii) les dégâts de Cosmopolites sordidus ont été étudiés dans un essai réalisé en station expérimentale. Les trois cultures associées ont eu un effet significatif sur l'abondance de tous les taxa de fourmis collectés mais le sens et la magnitude de cet effet ont varié selon les taxa. Cela montre le levier que constituent les cultures associées pour structurer la communauté des prédateurs généralistes de l'agroécosystème. Les abondances de tous les taxa de fourmis étaient également corrélées avec les dégâts de C. sordidus. Les abondances de Camponotus spp., Monomorium spp., Paratrechina longicornis et Tetramorium sp. étaient négativement corrélées avec les dégâts de C. sordidus montrant leur potentiel de régulation de ce ravageur. Cette étude à l'échelle de la communauté de l'agroécosystème suggère qu'il est nécessaire de prendre en compte les effets de la diversité végétale à tous les niveaux trophiques pour espérer maximiser le service de régulation des ravageurs.Mots clés : Diversité des plantes, cultures associées, réseaux trophiques, arthropodes, fourmis, structure de la communauté / Functional diversity and associated biodiversity in agroecosystems provide and promote important services to human society such as pollination, biological control, and nutrient cycling. Intercropping is a practical way to increase plant diversity in agroecosystems and participates to provide alternative foods and to structure arthropod communities, including generalist predators involved in pest control. To better understand how plant diversity structures the arthropod food web and how the control of pest may be optimized, we first made one meta-analysis to understand the mechanisms linking plant diversity to pest control by generalist predators at local scale. We second studied the effect of plant diversity on the arthropod community in contrasted plantain fields. We showed that predator abundance was positively correlated with plant diversity while herbivore abundance was negatively correlated with plant diversity. This strong and inverse effect of plant diversity on herbivore and predator abundance suggests that top-down forces structure the arthropod community in plantain fields and that it should be possible to structure the predator community to better control herbivores including pests. In a third step, we measured the effect of combinations of three associated crops maize Zea mays, cocoyam Xanthosoma sagittifolium and gourd Lagenaria siceraria as intercrops on ant community structure and then the effect relation between ant abundances with Cosmopolites sordidus damages. The three associated plants had a significant effect on abundance of all ant species but in different magnitudes and with either negative or positive effect showing that the selection of plant species that are intercropped is an efficient way to structure the ant community. The abundances of all species of ants were positively or negatively correlated with the damages of C. sordidus larvae. The abundances of Camponotus spp., Monomorium spp., Paratrechina longicornis and Tetramorium sp. were negatively correlated to C. sordidus damage. These ants appear to be the best candidates for C. sordidus control. These findings will help in the design of plantain agroecosystems that enhance pest control services.Keywords: Plant diversity, intercropping, arthropod food webs, ants, interspecific interactions, habitat structure