NYMPHAL HABITAT OF OLIARUS VICARIUS 
(HOMOPTERA: CIXIIDAE), AND POSSIBLE ASSOCIATION 
WITH APHAENOGASTER AND PARATRECHINA 
(HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) 1 
By C. R. Thompson, 2 J. C. Nickerson, 3 and F. W. Mead 3 
Oliarus is a cosmopolitan genus represented in North America 
north of Mexico by 51 species (Mead 1968). The most recently 
published key is found in a preliminary revision by Ball (1934) in 
which 31 species of Oliarus are recognized. Mead (1968) showed that 
O. vicarius (Walker) and O. quinquelineatus (Say) are so similar in 
morphology and habits that misidentifications are made. Mead 
stated that O. vicarius ranges only from North Carolina southward to 
Florida and, with few exceptions, is restricted to the coastal plain. O. 
quinquelineatus is widespread in the eastern half of North America. 
Its range overlaps that of O. vicarius as far south as Gainesville, 
Florida. 
Little is known of the nymphal habitat and behavior of O. vicarius. 
Prior to the report of Sheppard et al (1979) nymphs of O. vicarius 
were unknown. They were found by Sheppard et al(l 979) in unoccu¬ 
pied galleries in mounds of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis 
invicta Buren, and also in rotten stumps and logs. We here give 
further information on nymphal habitat and adult flight patterns. In 
addition, observations are given for 2 ant species frequently found 
with O. vicarius nymphs. 
Methods 
In 1976, O. vicarius nymphs and adults were found ca. 30 km east 
of Silver Springs, Florida, in stands of sand pine, Pinus clausa 
(Champm.) Vasey. Also present were saw-palmetto, Serenoa repens 
'Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 2139 and Contribu¬ 
tion No. 462, Bureau of Entomology, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department 
of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 
department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, 
FL 32611. 
division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer 
Services, P. O. Box 1269, Gainesville, FL 32602. 
Manuscript received by the editor January 18, 1980 
321 
