Department of Entomology

Name

Zhou Aiming

Gender

Male

Position Title

Associate Professor

Working Department

College of Plant Science and Technology

Email

zhouam@mail.hzau.edu.cn

Address

Department of Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University Wuhan, Hubei 430070, P.R. China

Tel

+86 13657238166

Fax

Research Interest

Ø Invasion Biology

Ø Insect Chemical Ecology

“Mutualism” between ants and honeydew-excreting hemipterans is ubiquitous in the ecosystem. However, the mechanisms of chemical communication between ants, hemipterans and their host plants are still obscure. Our research objects are invasive insects, including a notorious invasive species, the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta and an invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis. We try to reveal the complex interaction mechanism between ants, mealybugs and host plants using molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioral approach. We welcome master and doctoral candidates who are interested in invasion biology and chemical ecology to join our group.

Education & Working Experience

2016.1- Now, Associate Professor, Huazhong Agricultural University.

2018.12-2020.1, Visiting Scientist, National Biological Control Laboratory, USDA-ARS,

2012.7-2015.12, Research Assistant. Huazhong Agricultural University.

2009.9-2012.6, South China Agriculture University, Ph.D.

2006.9-2009.6, South China Agriculture University, MA.

2002.9-2006.6, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. BA.

Publications

1. Zhou AM（*）, Du YZ, Chen J（*）. Ants adjust their tool use strategy in response to foraging risk. Functional Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13671. 2020.

2. Liu YH, Xu C, Li QL, Zhou AM（*）. Interference competition for mutualism between ant species mediates ant-mealybug associations. Insects, 11: 91. 2020 DOI: 10.3390/insects11020091

3. Du YZ, Zhou AM, Chen J. Olfactory and behavioral responses to acetate esters in red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Pest Management Science. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.6152

4. Xu C, Su J, Qu XB, Zhou AM（*）. Ant-mealybug mutualism modulates the performance of co-occurring herbivores. Scientific Reports, 9: 1-11. 2019.

5. Xu C, Li QL, Qu XB, Chen J, Zhou AM（*）. Ant–hemipteran association decreases parasitism of Phenacoccus solenopsis by endoparasitoid Aenasius bambawalei. Ecological Entomology, 2: 290-299. 2019.

6. Li QL^#, Yi SC^#, Li DZ, Nie XP, Li SQ, Wang MQ, Zhou AM（*） Optimizing of reverse chemical ecology method: false positive binding of AbamOBP1 from Aenasius bambawalei caused by uncertain binding mechanism. Insect Molecular Biology, 27: 305-318. DOI: 10.1111/imb.12372. 2018.

7. Nie XP, Li QL, Xu C, Li DZ, Zhang Z, Wang MQ, Zhou AM（*）, Li SQ（*）. Analysis of antennal transcriptome and odorant binding protein expression profiles of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis and its parasitoid Aenasius bambawalei. Journal of Applied Entomology, 142: 149-161. 2018.

8. Zhou AM（*）, Qu XB, Shan LF, Wang X. Temperature warming strengthens the mutualism between ghost ants and invasive mealybugs. Scientific Reports, 7: 959, 2017.

9. Zhou AM, Liang GW, Zeng L, Lu YY, Xu YJ（*）. Solenopsis invicta suppress native ant by excluding mutual exploitation from the invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 49: 133-133. 2017.

10. Zhou AM, Kuang BQ, Gao YR, Wang MQ（*）. Ant tending impairs performance of Aenasius bambawalei by manipulating the honeydew composition produced by Phenacoccus solenopsis. Journal of Applied Entomology, 140: 268-276. 2016.

11. Zhou AM, Wu D, Liang GW, Lu YY, Xu YJ（*）. Effects of tending by Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the sugar composition and concentration in the honeydew of an invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Ethology, 121: 492-500. 2015.

12. Zhou AM（*）, Kuang BQ, Gao YR. Does the host plant affect the benefits from mutualisms? The invasive mealybug and ghost ant association. Ecological Entomology, 40: 782-786. 2015.

13. Zhou AM, Bi JQ, Xu JX, Wang MQ（*）. Effects of the invasive plant Eupatorium adenophorum on the exotic mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and their natural enemies. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 17: 389-399. 2015.

14. Zhou AM（*）, Kuang BQ, Gao YR, Liang GW. Sucrose triggers honeydew preference in the ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Florida Entomologist, 98: 1217-1222. 2015.

15. Zhou AM（*）, Kuang BQ, Gao YR, Liang GW. Density-dependent benefits in ant-hemipteran mutualism? The case of the ghost ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). PLoS ONE, 10: e0123885. 2015.

16. Zhou AM, Liang GW, Lu, YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）. Interspecific competition between the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren and ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum Fabricius for honeydew resources produced by an invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsiley. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 8: 469-474. 2014.

17. Zhou AM（*）, Liang GW, Zeng L, Lu YY, Xu YJ. Interactions between ghost ants and invasive mealybugs: the case of Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Florida Entomologist, 97: 1474-1480. 2014.

18. Zhou AM, Lu YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）, Liang GW（*）. Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), defend Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) against its natural enemies. Environmental Entomology, 42:247-252. 2013.

19. Zhou AM, Lu YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）, Liang GW（*）. Effect of host plants on honeydew production of an invasive mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Journal of Insect Behavior, 26:191-199. 2013.

20. Zhou AM, Lu YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）, Liang GW（*）. Does mutualism drive the invasion facilitation between two alien species? The case of Solenopsis invicta and Phenacoccus solenopsis. PLoS ONE, 7: e41856. 2012.

21. Zhou AM, Lu YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）, Liang GW（*）. Fire ants protect mealybugs against their natural enemies by utilizing the leaf shelters constructed by the leaf roller Sylepta derogata. PLoS ONE, 7: e49982. 2012.

22. Zhou AM, Lu YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）, Liang GW（*）. Effect of honeydew of Phenacoccus solenopsis on foliar foraging by Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 59:71-79. 2012.

23. Zhou AM, Lu YY, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）, Liang GW（*）. Fire ant-hemipteran mutualisms: comparison of ant preference for honeydew excreted by an invasive mealybug and a native aphid. Sociobiology, 59:795-804. 2012.

24. Cao L^#, Zhou AM^#, Chen RH, Zeng L, Xu YJ（*）. The olfactory and predatory responses of the red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, to the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 22:551-557. 2012. (Cao L and Zhou AM are co-first author)

25. Xu YJ（*）, Huang J, Zhou AM, Zeng L. Prevalence of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) venom allergic reactions in mainland China. Florida Entomologist, 95(4):961-965. 2012.

26. Wu D, Zeng L, Zhou AM, Xu YJ（*）. Effects of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) tending on the probing behavior of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Florida Entomologist, 96(4): 1343-1349. 2013.

Research Grants

“Study of behavioral and molecular mechanism of ghost ant-invasive mealybug interaction modulated by endosymbiont”, NSFC, RMB 590,000,1/2020-12/2023.

“Interruption of host-location behavior in the parasitoids Aenasius bambawalei, with the interaction of the ghost ants Tapinoma melanocephalum and the invasive mealybugs Phenacoccus solenopsis”, NSFC, RMB 240,000, 1/2015-12/2017.

“Molecular mechanism of chemical trapping of insects pests of pecan, the National Key Research and Development Program, RMB 291,600, 5/2019-12/2022.

“Molecular mechanism of chemical trapping and control of important rice insects pests, the National Key Research and Development Program, RMB 600,000, 1/2016-12/2020.

“Behavior and molecular mechanism of salivary endosymbionts in regulating the interaction between Phenacoccus solenopsis and cotton”, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, RMB 240,000, 1/2018-12/2020.