Olfactory behavior and response of household ants (Hymenoptera) to different types of coffee odor: A coffee-based bait development prospect

Abstract

A B S T R A C TOdor sensation is a sensory modality of considerable significance in the foraging behavior and interactional organization of ants. In the food bait technology, smell is the basis of attraction, which, in turn, is the line of bait use and a key parameter for judging efficacy. Yet, the currently available baits possess low attractiveness to many ant pests. Hence, strategies to produce ant bait with increased attractiveness are needed. Despite evidence that coffee has a diverse aroma complex that affects the behavior of honey bees and ants, its attraction to houseinvading ants has yet to be investigated. In a series of Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, we examined the behavioral responses of Tapinoma indicum (TI), Monomorium pharaonis (MP) and Solenopsis geminata (SG) to various coffeeinduced odor stimuli, comprised of extracts from Arabica, Robusta and Liberica. All coffee extracts showed an influence on the behavior of TI, MP and SG workers, with Arabica showed the most significant influence to the tested ants. The workers of TI, MP and SG were more attracted to the odor of 0.01% Arabica extract (ONE), in comparison with 0.05% Arabica extract (TWO) or 0.10% Arabica extract (THREE). Arabica extract mixed with sugar (S) elicited a significant attraction from workers of all three species in a balanced competition with either unsweetened Arabica extract or water. These results indicated that coffee, particularly Arabica, was attractive to the foragers of TI, MP and SG, thus, the use of coffee as a novel stimulus agent seems plausible in ant bait development.

Invasive ant learning is not affected by seven potential neuroactive chemicals

“…Can act as a repellent or an attractant depending on the extract and concentration used (Yeoh, Dieng & Majid, 2018;Majid et al, 2018;Madsen & Offenberg, 2019).…”

“…In fact, upon extensive search, to our knowledge only six studies investigated the effects of these chemicals on ants, three of which focusing exclusively on whether the chemical elicited preference or aversion. Caffeine was shown to act as an attractant or repellent, depending on the extracts and concentrations used, likely altering food value perception (Yeoh, Dieng & Majid, 2018;Majid et al, 2018;Madsen & Offenberg, 2019). Furthermore, both caffeine and nicotine have been reported to improve conditioning and memory, albeit while decreasing food consumption (Cammaerts, Rachidi & Gosset, 2014a, 2014b.…”

Development and Characterization of Novel Polymorphic Microsatellite Markers for Tapinoma indicum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…Previous studies on T. indicum were mainly focused on feeding preferences and foraging activities ( Chong and Lee 2006 ), plant-derived pesticides ( Lim and Ab Majid 2019 ), and bait preferences ( Lee 2008 , Chong and Lee 2009 , Ab Majid et al 2018 ). To date, no molecular research has been conducted on T. indicum .…”

Morpho-molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Relationship of Tapinoma indicum Forel from Metropolitan Area

“…The earliest research by Chong & Lee (2006) focused on T. indicum foraging preferences and foraging activities. The majority of the research focuses on T. indicum's bait preferences (Lee, 2008;Chong & Lee, 2009;Ab Majid et al, 2018), whereas the most recent T. indicum research by Lim and Ab Majid (2019) involved the development of plant-derived pesticides.…”