Fürjes-Mikó Ágnes, Csősz Sándor, Paulin Márton József, Csóka György
Department of Forest Protection, Forest Research Institute, University of Sopron, H-3232 Mátrafüred, Hungary.
HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group, Biological Institute, Eötvös Loránd University, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary.
Insects. 2025 May 13;16(5):518. doi: 10.3390/insects16050518.
Red wood ants (RWA), belonging to the species group, play a crucial and fascinating role in Central Europe's forest ecosystems. They have a high variety of effects, which they exert around their nests. Their generalist feeding on prey in the canopies of trees lowers the frequency of defoliator outbreaks, as well as increases local biodiversity. Nearly half of their diverse diet is insects, including species considered harmful by foresters. They also have a mutualistic relation with honeydew-producing aphids and planthoppers, which connection has unclear effects on the forests. The habit of RWAs building nests could also positively influence soil composition, due to its structure and high amount of organic matter, which could potentially benefit tree growth. RWAs are also known to enhance the species richness of forests by supporting various myrmecophilous species associated with them. In this study, we review the role of RWAs in forest protection, drawing on the literature focusing on Hungary and Central Europe.
红木蚁（RWA）属于该物种组，在中欧的森林生态系统中发挥着至关重要且引人入胜的作用。它们在巢穴周围产生多种影响。它们以树冠层的猎物为食，具有普遍性，这降低了食叶害虫爆发的频率，并增加了当地的生物多样性。它们多样化的食物中近一半是昆虫，包括被林业人员视为有害的物种。它们还与分泌蜜露的蚜虫和飞虱存在共生关系，这种联系对森林的影响尚不清楚。红木蚁筑巢的习性也可能因其结构和大量的有机物质而对土壤成分产生积极影响，这可能有利于树木生长。众所周知，红木蚁通过支持与其相关的各种喜蚁物种来提高森林的物种丰富度。在本研究中，我们借鉴以匈牙利和中欧为重点的文献，综述红木蚁在森林保护中的作用。
