Abstract
The current control measures used against common household ants in urban and agricultural settings include perimeter insecticide applications. These often have the potential to cause problems of poisoning non-target organisms, due to the insecticidal runoff and environmental contamination. A gel-baiting technique is the most effective tool to control ants with less insecticides released into the environment. In this study two commercial gel baits; the Boric acid (2.5% boric acid) and the Fipronil (0.01% fipronil) baits, were evaluated against laboratory made baits (lab baits). The lab baits, consisted of: 1.5% boric + fructose (F1.5), 1.5% boric acid + fructose + molasses (M1.5), 3% boric acid + fructose (F3), and 3% boric + fructose + molasses (M3) were evaluated based on preference and mortality rates of the common household ant species: the Asian needle ant, Monomorium chinensis, Santschi, and the Yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, Smith, under laboratory conditions. An inconsistent preference was observed between species and different baits; however, the fipronil bait and the lab bait M3, were preferred more by both ant species compared to the other baits tested. Lab bait M3 also had a faster killing speed than the boric acid bait and the lab bait F3.Based on the results it was concluded that lab bait M3 was a more efficient ant bait and is a potential alternative control measure to the current commercial baits.
Highlights
Ants comprise 5% of the world’s one hundred worst invasive alien species and of the seventeen land invertebrates listed, five (28%) are ants (Vander Meer & Milne, 2017)
The results of this study aim to develop new gel baits with a specific percentage of boric acid as the active ingredient (AI) for effective control of common household ants; M. chinensis and A. gracilipes
The percentage of M. chinensis observed foraging on the Fipronil bait was significantly higher than those observed on the rest of tested baits; the number of ants observed on the lab bait F1.5, the boric acid bait and the lab bait F3 were not significantly different (F = 6.2, p < 0.01) (Table 2)
Summary
Ants comprise 5% of the world’s one hundred worst invasive alien species and of the seventeen land invertebrates listed, five (28%) are ants (Vander Meer & Milne, 2017). Among the most problematic invasive species, the Asian needle ant, Monomorium chinensis, Santschi and the Yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, Smith, cause devastating environmental and urban problems all over the world and area threat to local biodiversity (Zheng et al, 2008). Current control measures of these species include perimeter spraying or direct application to nest sites for successful control. This can result in insecticidal run-off and environmental contamination often poisons other non-target organisms (Welzel & Choe, 2016). Considering that most baits contain toxic substances, they are environmentally hazardous and arising concern to world wide health agencies and environment authorities (Kafle & Shih, 2013)
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