Abstract
Recruitment to different concentrations of sucrose in water and toxicity to boric acid in different concentrations of sucrose water were evaluated in the laboratory for use against the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr). Recruitment of ants to 50% sucrose water was significantly greater than to 25% sucrose water, which was greater than to 10% sucrose water. Over the dose range from 0.2 to 1.0% (wt:vol) boric acid, LT 50 s (95% CL) ranged from 5.6 (5.2-5.9 d) to 1.4 d (1.3-1.6 d) in 10% sucrose water and 5.0 (4.7-5.3 d) to 1.7 d (1.5-1.9 d) in 25% sucrose water. Based on these laboratory results, a 0.5% boric acid in 25% sucrose water bait was formulated and evaluated against an infestation of Argentine ants in a water production plant. Over the 10-wk duration of the bait study, structures where control baits (25% sucrose water) were applied did not show a significant change in ant population numbers, whereas those receiving the boric acid bait showed a significant and continuous reduction (80%) of ants.
Published Version
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