Effect of Horizontal Transfer of Barrier Insecticides to Control Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

Horizontal transfer of three contact insecticides, bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, and fipronil, was tested in laboratory colonies. Donor ants were exposed for 1 min to insecticide-treated sand substrates and placed with unexposed ant colonies at two different temperatures. Mortality was monitored to compare the ability of donors to transfer lethal doses of these insecticides to untreated individuals. Treated donor insects, live or dead, were added into colonies to determine the importance of donor behavior on lethal transfer. Fipronil was readily transferable between individuals, resulting in high mortality rates. Bifenthrin and beta-cyfluthrin were less transferable, exhibiting moderate-to-low mortality rates similar to the controls. Greater mortality occurred at 27-29 degrees C than at 21-23 degrees C for bifenthrin, but not the other treatments or controls. Colony mortality did not significantly increase when adding live donors, suggesting that necrophoresis was probably an important donor behavior in addition to grooming and trophallaxis on horizontal transfer.

Activity of Bifenthrin, Chlorfenapyr, Fipronil, and Thiamethoxam Against Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…With all bifenthrin treatments having Ͻ30% mortality, horizontal activity would not be as important as contact toxicity under Þeld conditions. Although we did not Þnd a difference in mortality among temperatures in bifenthrin treatments, Soeprono and Rust (2004b) found higher horizontal activity at 27Ð29ЊC than at 21Ð23ЊC. Unlike in our study, Soeprono and Rust (2004b) introduced live donor ants to the recipient colonies.…”

“…Although we did not Þnd a difference in mortality among temperatures in bifenthrin treatments, Soeprono and Rust (2004b) found higher horizontal activity at 27Ð29ЊC than at 21Ð23ЊC. Unlike in our study, Soeprono and Rust (2004b) introduced live donor ants to the recipient colonies. At higher temperatures, the treated ants may have been more active, allowing more opportunity for contact with untreated ants and contamination of the box ßoor, and accounting for the difference in results between the two studies.…”

Response of Argentine Ants and Red Imported Fire Ants to Permethrin-Impregnated Plastic Strips: Foraging Rates, Colonization of Potted Soil, and Differential Mortality

“…Mortality of Argentine ants resulting from horizontal transfer of insecticides such as Þpronil to untreated individuals has been reported previously (Soeprono and Rust 2004). However, in our study, there was no signiÞcant difference in mortality rates between treated and untreated colonies, suggesting a behavioral response to a sublethal dose.…”

Combinatorial Potential of bait matrix against subterranean termites under lab and field conditions

“…Key among these mechanisms is trophallaxis, which facilitates the spread of bait toxicants (Hu et al, 2005), and mutual grooming which facilitates the spread of liquid spray insecticides (Soeprono & Rust, 2004). Control of subterranean termite was transfigured when first termite bait product was registered by Dow AgroSciences LLC (formerly known as ~ow~lanco) .…”