A new fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) bait base carrier for moist conditions

BACKGROUND: A new water‐resistant fire ant bait (T‐bait; cypermethrin 0.128%) consisting of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) as a carrier was developed and evaluated against a standard commercial bait (Advion^®; indoxacarb 0.045%) under both laboratory and field conditions. RESULTS: When applying the normal T‐bait or Advion^® in the laboratory, 100% of Solenopsis invicta Buren worker ants were killed within 4 days. However, when the T‐bait and Advion^® were wetted, 70.6 and 39.7% of the ants were killed respectively. Under field conditions, dry T‐bait and dry Advion^® had almost the same efficacy against ant colonies. However, when T‐bait and Advion^® came in contact with water, the former's ability to kill S. invicta colonies in the field was only marginally reduced, while Advion^® lost virtually all of its activity. In addition, DDGS was also shown to be compatible with a number of other insecticides, such as d‐allethrin, permethrin and pyrethrin. CONCLUSION: Based on its properties of remaining attractive to the fire ants when wetted, combined with its ant‐killing abilities both in the laboratory and in the field, T‐bait is an efficient fire ant bait, especially under moist conditions. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

11种杀虫剂对草皮中红火蚁的检疫除害效果

本文试验了11种杀虫剂对草皮中红火蚁的检疫灭除效果。结果表明,40%毒死蜱乳油30000倍液2、%阿维菌素乳油30000倍液、80%敌敌畏乳油6000倍液4、.5%高效氯氰菊酯乳油3000倍液浓度可完全杀死红火蚁,且对草皮生长没有影响,满足检疫处理要求;其余7种不能达到快速灭除草皮中红火蚁的要求。同时发现,草皮中的红火蚁数量与实际诱集到的数量之间关系符合模型Y=0.0032X-0.59(R2=0.9647,P=0.01)。     

红火蚁克星对入侵红火蚁的防治效果

经过一年来的野外试验,结果表明红火蚁克星对红火蚁具有显著的控制效果。施药后4d,红火蚁全巢死亡率达83.33～92.31%,施药后7～10d全巢死亡。施药后90d和180d监测结果表明,诱测点在6个月内未出现新的蚁巢。     

硫氟磺酰胺、氟虫腈和苯氧威3种饵剂对红火蚁的防效初探

在红火蚁严重发生地区进行的药效试验表明,0.5%硫氟磺酰胺饵剂投放后15d药效开始发挥,25d后处理蚁巢全部死亡,药后70d调查结果显示,其对红火蚁的校正防治效果高达94.1%;0.001%氟虫腈饵剂撒施后15d开始发挥药效,30d后蚁巢中无工蚁活动,药后70d调查显示其对红火蚁的防治效果为90.9%;0.5%苯氧威饵剂撒施后40d,在蚁巢中仍能监测到工蚁的活动,70d后调查结果表明其对红火蚁的防治效果为84.9%。统计分析结果说明,0.5%硫氟磺酰胺饵剂和0.001%氟虫腈饵剂对红火蚁的防治效果好于0.5%苯氧威饵剂。由于0.001%氟虫腈饵剂和0.5%苯氧威饵剂是实验室临时配制,虽然其对红火蚁的诱食性较差,但仍能表现较好的防治效果。0.5%硫氟磺酰胺饵剂和0.001%氟虫腈饵剂可以用于红火蚁的防治,0.5%苯氧威饵剂配方需要进一步改进。     

氟磺酰胺毒饵使用量对红火蚁防治效果的影响

在确定了氟磺酰胺毒饵对红火蚁控制效果的基础上,就氟磺酰胺毒饵的使用量对红火蚁的控制效果进行了研究。结果表明:在5-25 g/巢的范围内,氟磺酰胺毒饵都可获得较好的防治效果,但防治效果及蚁巢的死亡程度会因施药量的不同而异。5 g/巢的剂量可在40 d内获得平均为96.7%的防效,但不能将所有的蚁巢杀死。10-25 g/巢的剂量可以在30-40 d内使蚁巢死亡,但蚁巢100%死亡所需的时间会因剂量的减少而延长。工蚁数量下降的程度不会因氟磺酰胺毒饵的使用量而产生差异。为此,建议在使用氟磺酰胺毒饵防治红火蚁时,可在10-25 g/巢的范围内根据蚁巢大小调整使用量。     

Combined use of a synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait provides effective control of an invasive ant

BACKGROUND: Except for sex pheromones, use of pheromones in pest management has been largely unexplored. A high concentration of trail pheromone disrupts ant trail following and foraging, and thus synthetic trail pheromone can be a novel control agent for pest ants. In this study, a year‐long treatment of small areas (100 m² plots of urban house gardens) with synthetic trail pheromone, insecticidal bait or both was conducted to develop a novel control method of the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr). RESULTS: The ant population could be maintained lower than or similar to the initial level only by combined treatment with synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait. Actually, the ant population was nearly always lowest in combination treatment plots. Throughout the study period, the ant population in plots treated with either one of synthetic trail pheromone or insecticidal bait remained similar to no‐treatment plots. CONCLUSIONS: Combination treatment may be a more effective and environmentally friendly method for controlling invasive ants than conventional methods. Extermination of ants by insecticidal bait and inhibition of re‐infestation by pheromone may be the mechanism of the combination effect. This is the first study to show a significant effect of synthetic trail pheromone on ant population. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

α -三联噻吩对红火蚁Solenopsis invicta觅食行为和触角功能的影响

通过研究光活化杀虫活性成分 α -三联噻吩( α -T)对红火蚁 Solenopsis invicta Buren工蚁觅食行为和触角识别功能的影响,探讨了光活化成分用于控制红火蚁的可行性。用Potter喷雾法将100 μg/mL的 α -T丙酮水溶液喷施于红火蚁中型工蚁体表,再经紫外(UVA)光照射30 min,在处理后5、10、15、20和30 min时,试蚁对火腿肠的识别率分别为20.00%、25.00%、38.33%、40.00% 和41.67%,对杀虫剂饵料的识别率分别为3.33%、0、0、3.33%和0,聚集率分别为17.50%、38.33%、 32.50%、45.00%和48.33%;经100 μg/mL的 α -T涂抹试蚁触角再经紫外光照处理30 min后,触角对丙酮反应的电位值为-0.177 mV,可正常行走的工蚁比率为75.00%;以100 μg/mL的 α -T涂抹试蚁触角并经紫外光照射30 min后10 h,红火蚁的死亡率为27.50%;上述结果均与 α -T黑暗处理、对照(CK)光照处理和CK黑暗处理结果差异显著。 α -T对红火蚁工蚁食物识别和探路行走能力均具有良好的光活化抑制作用,以其防治红火蚁具有良好可行性。     

几种毒饵对红火蚁的室内诱杀药效试验

阿维菌素、吡丙醚、氟虫腈、吡虫啉、毒死蜱和氟磺酰胺等6种毒饵在室内对红火蚁进行诱杀实验结果表明：氟磺酰胺和吡丙醚的药效均属于慢性,较适于作为红火蚁防控根除的诱杀毒饵药剂;阿维菌素和吡虫啉的药效介于急、慢性之间;而氟虫腈、毒死蜱属于急性毒杀药剂,不适于作为红火蚁诱杀毒饵.其中0.5%氟磺酰胺饵剂作为广西红火蚁发生区的面上防治药剂已取得显著控制效果.     

4种杀虫剂对西昌市红火蚁的防控试验

在西昌市试验了4种登记用于红火蚁防控的杀虫剂对红火蚁的田间防控效果。结果表明:茚虫威饵剂施用24 d后对蚁巢和工蚁的平均防效分别为71.5%和96.5%,在另一时间段氟蚁腙饵剂施用23 d后对蚁巢和工蚁的平均防效为62.3%和77.0%,以上两种杀虫剂分别施用5次后对蚁巢和工蚁的防效都超过97%,适合在西昌市推广应用。高效氯氰菊酯粉剂施用24 d后对蚁巢和工蚁的平均防效分别为67.5%和76.0%,其杀灭速度较快,适用于应急防控。     

外来物种红火蚁的化学防治技术

红火蚁的入侵已引起我国各界的关注,本文介绍了入侵红火蚁化学防治技术研究进展。按照化学防治策略可以分为以蚁巢为单元的局部处理和大面积全部处理,从施药技术角度可以分为浇灌和撒施毒饵两大类。浇灌技术主要是将药液灌入蚁巢内,其药液量是一个关键因子;毒饵适用的场所比较广泛,但是施药时间对控制效果影响比较大,一般在晚上施药效果较好,雨后不能马上使用毒饵。     

0.05%氟虫腈杀蚁饵剂对红火蚁的传毒活性测定

应用联杯法等室内测定了0.05%氟虫腈杀蚁饵剂对红火蚁的引诱力、毒杀速度及其传导毒杀活性.结果表明,供试饵剂对红火蚁的引诱性、毒杀速度显著优于正舒(对照药剂).红火蚁觅食到供试饵剂的初始时间为2.00 min,与正舒的2.33 min达显著差异;供试饵剂处理后24 h的工蚁死亡率为80.65%,显著高于对照饵剂的50.15%;72 h的工蚁死亡率即达到100%.联杯法测定结果表明,0.05%氟虫腈杀蚁饵剂能通过工蚁的取食和交哺行为进行传导.供试饵剂受药杯中工蚁、幼蚁和蚁后3 d后死亡率均达到100%,显著高于对照饵剂.0.05%氟虫腈杀蚁饵剂引诱性强、对红火蚁具有高胃毒、高传导毒杀活性,可适用于防控入侵红火蚁.     

红火蚁监测盒研制和在集装箱检疫中的应用研究

为了筛选出一种适用于红火蚁检疫和监测的饵剂,设计出红火蚁检疫监测盒,本文在室内试验盒和集装箱内开展诱捕试验。结果表明:以鱼粉、鱼蛋白胨、蜂蜜、花生油按比例组合制成胶状剂型的饵料在1.8m内对红火蚁有较好诱集效果。集装箱试验表明,在虫口密度≥7头/m3时,距虫源释放点3.3m6、.6m、10m处均有诱集效果,集装箱两侧监测盒效果明显优于其他位置,且在6h后诱集虫口数达到一个高峰,可作为口岸检疫应用的推荐时间。带废纸集装箱试验表明,当虫口密度为9头/m3,距虫源释放点约6.0m的监测盒6h的检出率约达71%。因此,推荐在集装箱、汽车或其他运输工具上两侧放置2～4个监测盒,4～6h后检查效果可作为红火蚁检疫及其监测新方法。     

盆栽花卉红火蚁药剂处理试验初报

高效氯氰菊脂、氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、氰戊菊酯、高效氯氟氰菊酯、阿维菌素、氟虫腈和毒死蜱等8种杀虫剂浇灌处理盆栽花卉的红火蚁蚁巢试验证明:4.5%高效氯氰菊酯乳油和2.5%溴氰菊酯乳油800倍稀释液、20%氰戊菊酯乳油和1.8%阿维菌素乳油2000倍稀释液均能在3天内完全杀灭蚁巢内的工蚁、兵蚁、有翅繁殖蚁和蚁后;对花卉生长没有不良影响,可用于携带红火蚁盆花的应急检疫除害处理;其余4种农药不能达到快速杀灭红火蚁的要求.     

红火蚁的人工饲养方法

以石膏和沙子为主要材料,建立了红火蚁人工蚁巢。结果表明,经过1个月的人工饲养,红火蚁能够在这两种人工蚁巢中存活、发育,以及产生有翅性蚁,其死亡率为17%～19%,与自然蚁巢相比无显著差异。同时人工饲养蚁对毒死蜱的敏感性与自然蚁也无显著差异。种群数量随饲养周期的增加而不断增长,可以为红火蚁研究提供大量均一的试虫。     

Control of Solenopsis invicta with delayed-action fluorinated toxicants

The fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was accidentally imported into the southern United States and has become a serious medical and agricultural pest of nine southeastern states and Puerto Rico. For a bait toxicant to be effective in fire ant control it must have delayed activity over a wide range of concentrations. Less than 1% of the 7500 compounds screened since 1958 has had delayed action. This paper describes several classes of fluorinated compounds that exhibit delayed activity. These compounds are used to illustrate the following three approaches to the discovery of delayed-action toxicants: (a) random screening of compounds for delayed action; (b) design of delayed activity through the synthesis of pro-insecticides; and (c) serendipity. As a result of these investigations two new classes of insecticides were discovered. A compound from one of these classes (tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (3-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1-(2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-ethynyl)-2-propenyl-idene) hydrazone, has been commercialised, while one or more compounds from the second new chemical class (fluorinated sulphonamides) are under development. Fluorinated delayed-action insecticides have made significant contributions to current fire ant control and will no doubt play a role in the future.     

施用茚虫威饵剂后红火蚁的蚁巢迁移及弃尸行为

红火蚁Solenopsis invicta是典型的社会性昆虫, 在防控过程中容易引起红火蚁巢体迁移和弃尸等现象, 影响防控效果。本研究对标记好的蚁巢施用茚虫威饵剂, 然后定时观察新增加的蚁巢数量和工蚁弃尸量。结果表明, 施用0.08%和0.1%茚虫威饵剂后, 所有处理均有新蚁巢出现, 施药后5~10 d, 新蚁巢大量出现, 随后蚁群趋向稳定, 新增蚁巢减少, 至处理后25~30 d, 再次出现新蚁巢。0.1%茚虫威饵剂15 g/巢处理在施药后5 d出现8个新蚁巢, 药后10 d和30 d分别又新增5个蚁巢, 其他时间新增蚁巢数较少。按处理剂量, 药后30 d, 2种药剂15 g/巢处理出现的新巢数量均显著高于25 g/巢处理。0.1%茚虫威15 g/巢处理, 校正蚁巢累计增加率高达124.98%, 0.08%茚虫威饵剂15 g/巢处理为89.05%; 0.08%和0.1%茚虫威饵剂25 g/巢处理, 校正蚁巢累计增加率分别为12.00%和51.34%。施用15 g/巢饵剂后2 d开始有大量工蚁尸体被丢弃, 至药后4 d弃尸量达最大值, 0.08%和0.1%茚虫威饵剂处理弃尸量分别为330.5头/巢和300.2头/巢, 随后呈逐步下降趋势, 至14 d, 弃尸量降至最低。施药后8 d内弃尸量达总弃尸量75.26%以上, 至药后10 d, 已达总弃尸量的90.08%以上。施用0.08%和0.1%茚虫威饵剂25 g/巢的处理新蚁巢出现较少, 表明施用相对低剂量的饵剂, 更容易引起蚁巢迁移。红火蚁的弃尸行为主要发生在饵剂施用后的前8 d。     

Argentine ant control around homes: efficacy of treatments and urban runoff

ABSTRACT

Pest management professionals in California receive more customer complaints about Argentine ants than for any other urban ant pest. Fipronil, applied as a 30 × 30 cm band around the house foundation, has become the preferred treatment used to control these ants. Unfortunately, fipronil is now showing up in urban waterways at levels that are toxic to aquatic invertebrates. Our recent studies are aimed at mitigating insecticide runoff while still controlling the ant infestations. A high priority is preventing fipronil runoff from the driveway to the street, where it can flow into drains and from there to urban waterways. In this paper, two related studies address these issues. Not treating driveways with fipronil reduced by two to three orders of magnitude its runoff when compared with earlier studies. However, not treating the driveway can reduce efficacy of treatments. Granular bifenthrin, indoxacarb, botanicals, and a thiamethoxam ant bait were tested as supplemental treatments. The gel bait showed the best result as a supplement, but only after 8 weeks. We have reduced fipronil runoff while maintaining efficacy of the ant treatments.     

Urban ants of the city of Buenos Aires,Argentina: species survey and practical control

ABSTRACT

Ants are among the most diverse, abundant and ecologically significant organisms on earth. They have colonized almost all existing habitats, including urban areas, where they may pose serious problems for human activities. Here, we present different aspects of our studies on urban ants in the city of Buenos Aires aimed at collecting information on the species present in the city and at improving bait control strategies via laboratory assays. The use of these baits represents a control strategy that is environment-friendly as it avoids indiscriminate pesticide release. Moreover, we show that our baits exhibit higher efficiency when compared to a commercial bait, as it is optimized in terms of the ants’ feeding behavior even when both have the same active compound and at the same concentration. This work represents the first integrative study on urban ants in the city of Buenos Aires and indicates that the control of invasive species in urban settings may be improved by increasing the scientific knowledge of the biology of the target species.     

应用硫氟磺酰胺毒饵防治红火蚁

应用硫氟磺酰胺毒饵在广西陆川防治25hm^2红火蚁的结果表明，施药后3d蚁巢内即有红火蚁个体死亡。施药后7、14、21d的防治效果分别可达81．5%,93．9％和100%；施药后余下的顽固蚁巢和7d后出现的新蚁巢经再度施药后14d全部死亡；从5月23日到11月25日蚁群全部死亡的5欢监测、调查，既诱捕不到工蚁，也没有发现新蚁巢。因此，硫氟磺酰胺毒饵不仅具有高效、快速、安全、使用方便等特点，而且硫氟磺酰胺的应用完全可以取代目前国外普遍使用的二步施药法中的灌巢法。     

Effect of patch size on seed removal by harvester ants

The harvester ant Messor barbarus can be responsible for high weed seed losses in dry land cereals in Spain. Because weeds occur in patches, harvester ants have to be able to find and exploit patches. However, seed patches can differ in size and may, therefore, differ in the probability of being discovered and exploited. Here, 90 patches varying in size from 0.25 to 9 m² were created in three 50 × 50 m subareas in a cereal field. Oat seeds were sown as weed seed surrogates in the patches at 2000 seeds m^?2. After 24 h, those remaining were collected and the exploitation rate (the percentage of seeds removed per patch discovered by ants) was estimated. Harvester ant nests and the location of the seed patches were georeferenced and used to estimate distances between them. The patch encounter rate (the proportion of patches discovered by the ants) decreased slightly, but significantly, with decreasing patch size, though not the exploitation rate, which was lowest in the smallest patches (78–94%) and highest in the largest (99–100%). Seed patches that were not found or partially exploited were mostly located in subareas with a lower ant nest density or a longer distance away from the nearest nest than seed patches that were fully exploited. The results of this study indicate that the interaction between the spatial distribution of ant nests and the patchy distribution of seeds can create opportunities for seeds to be subjected to lower levels of predation.