No-residual baits and farmer perception to manage leaf-cutting ants

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe objective of this work was to study the perception of farmers facing the occurrence of leaf-cutting ants of Acromyrmex and Atta and to evaluate the efficacy of neem oil and sesame seed baits in reducing forage activity of ants under farmer conditions. The interviewed farmers were highly receptive to use environment-friendly techniques in both situations, organic and conventional systems. The neem baits reduced 75.5 and 83.5% of ant foraging, respectively, of Atta sp. e Acromyrmex spp. after 9 daily applications. Sesame bait reduced 55.9 and 67.6% foraging of Atta sp. and Acromyrmex spp., respectively.