An efficacy test of cholecalciferol plus diphacinone rodenticide baits for California voles (Microtus californicus Peale) to replace ineffective chlorophacinone baits

California voles cause damage to pastures and rangelands, orchards and nurseries, and a wide variety of field crops, including artichokes. The anticoagulant rodenticides (chlorophacinone and diphacinone) typically used for voles are becoming less effective in controlling their populations. Consequently, there is a need to identify new rodenticides that will have a high efficacy on California voles so that agricultural production losses to rodents can be substantially reduced. We tested a new formulation containing two active ingredients (cholecalciferol and diphacinone) as a control method for California voles. Both a pelleted bait and an oil-coated artichoke bract bait were very palatable and efficacious against wild-caught, captive California voles. Efficacy levels of 70%–80% were achieved in the two-choice feeding trials. Additionally, the days-to-death (5–6 days) were less than the time-to-death with anticoagulant only baits. We recommend that a field efficacy study be conducted with cholecalciferol plus diphacinone bait formulations to determine their field performance in the reduction of agricultural damage by California voles.     

防治稻田黄毛鼠和板齿鼠的试验

烟草霜霉病(Peronospora tabacina Adam)是烟草作物的一种毁灭性病害,蔓延很广,遍及世界许多国家。鉴于我国无烟草霜霉病分布,因此,杜绝此病的传入,保护烟草生产,对来自疫区的烟叶实施检疫很有必要。烟草霜霉病传病的主要来源是分生孢子和卵孢子,但分生孢子与卵孢子比较,其抗逆能力差,寿命短,烟叶经晒干、贮藏、航运、加工等过程,随烟叶携带霜霉病分生孢子传病的可能性少。关于卵孢子,尽管萌发的具体情况不甚清楚,传播流行所起作用认     

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     

Bromadiolone susceptibility in wild and laboratory Mus musculus L.(house mice) in Buenos Aires,Argentina

BACKGROUND: Rodents are major pests in many agricultural systems, where they can cause significant economic losses and involve a sanitary risk. The application of anticoagulant rodenticides for rodent control has showed a decrease in effectiveness through time because of the development of resistant populations and the development of aversion behaviour. The goal of the present study was to test the susceptibility to bromadiolone and the existence of anticoagulant resistance in Mus musculus L. (house mouse) in Argentina. We conducted a feeding test with wild animals captured in poultry farms and a laboratory strain that were fed with bromadiolone bait. RESULTS: Three animals of the field experimental group survived the 21 days study period, while for laboratory animals mortality was 100%. Control field animals which were fed without anticoagulant showed 100% survival. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of the presence of anticoagulant resistant M. musculus L. in the study area. Feeding behaviour may have contributed to increasing the time of survival, and may be a mechanism that allows metabolic clearance of the bromadiolone. Under field conditions control with anticoagulants would be less effective because animals have alternative food. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bromadiolone,a New Anticoagulant Rodenticide1

A search for more effective anticoagulant rodenticides has brought about the development of a new compound, coded LM-637, and temporarily named bromadiolone. Results of efficacy tests on 10 rodent species are discussed in detail. The compound was found to be a very potent and highly palatable anticoagulant which is capable of achieving 100% mortality in Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout), with 1-day feeding. Efficacy was demonstrated on all 3 commensal rodents and several important agricultural rodent pests native to the United States. A relatively few feedings (1 to 5 days) of bait containing 0.005 % bromadiolone produced death in most species tested. These rodenticidal properties make bromadiolone a most promising control agent.     

Short- and long-term control of Vespula pensylvanica in Hawaii by fipronil baiting

BACKGROUND: The invasive western yellowjacket wasp, Vespula pensylvanica (Saussure), has significantly impacted the ecological integrity and human welfare of Hawaii. The goals of the present study were (1) to evaluate the immediate and long‐term efficacy of a 0.1% fipronil chicken bait on V. pensylvanica populations in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, (2) to quantify gains in efficacy using the attractant heptyl butyrate in the bait stations and (3) to measure the benefits of this approach for minimizing non‐target impacts to other arthropods. RESULTS: The 0.1% fipronil chicken bait reduced the abundance of V. pensylvanica by 95 ± 1.2% during the 3 months following treatment and maintained a population reduction of 60.9 ± 3.1% a year after treatment in the fipronil‐treated sites when compared with chicken‐only sites. The addition of heptyl butyrate to the bait stations significantly increased V. pensylvanica forager visitation and bait take and significantly reduced the non‐target impacts of fipronil baiting. CONCLUSION: In this study, 0.1% fipronil chicken bait with the addition of heptyl butyrate was found to be an extremely effective large‐scale management strategy and provided the first evidence of a wasp suppression program impacting Vepsula populations a year after treatment. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Termite cuticular extracts improve acceptance of bait for controlling invasive Asian needle ants,Brachyponera chinensis

BACKGROUND

The Asian needle ant, Brachyponera chinensis, is an invasive ant currently spreading in urban and natural habitats throughout the eastern United States. Recent studies have documented the negative impact of B. chinensis on native ecosystems and human health, yet effective control strategies are lacking. Control difficulties are, in part, due to the unique biology of B. chinensis, which is a predatory ant and a termite specialist. Given that subterranean termites are an important nutritional resource for B. chinensis, the current study evaluated the potential of termite cuticular extract to improve the target-specificity and efficacy of commercial bait used for B. chinensis control.

RESULTS

The efficacy of bait augmented with termite cuticular extracts was evaluated in laboratory and field trials. In laboratory assays, B. chinensis colonies were offered granular bait treated with termite cuticular extract. Results demonstrated that the acceptance of commercial bait is significantly increased by the addition of termite cuticular extract or synthetic (Z)-9-pentacosene, a major component of termite cuticular extract. Foraging activity of Asian needle ants was significantly greater on baits augmented with termite cuticular extract or (Z)-9-pentacosene relative to standard bait. Furthermore, bait augmented with termite cuticular extract worked substantially faster relative to standard bait. To evaluate population effects, field studies were conducted in forested areas invaded by B. chinensis. Bait treated with termite cuticular extract scattered on the forest floor provided rapid control of B. chinensis and ant densities throughout the treated plots declined by 98% within 14 days.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of termite cuticular extracts and individual cuticular hydrocarbons such as (Z)-9-pentacosene into traditional baits used for B. chinensis control may offer a novel tool to manage this increasingly problematic invasive ant. © 2023 The Author. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Cholecalciferol-induced bait shyness in possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃) is used in a variety of bait formulations to control populations of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), an introduced pest that seriously damages and threatens primary production and native biota in New Zealand. In cage trials, possums readily ate sublethal baits containing either an estimated LD₁₅ or LD₄₀ dose of cholecalciferol, leading to a depression of appetite that lasted for 7-15 days. When lethal quantities of baits were presented 21-30 days after the initial LD₁₅ or LD₄₀ baits, 40 and 88% of possums survived, respectively, compared with a 21% survival rate among naive possums, and bait consumption was also reduced among survivors of the initial baits. Subsequent switching of the bait base to a gel was partially successful in overcoming bait shyness, killing 40% of one group (formed by pooling the original groups), while switching both the bait type (to gel) and the toxicant (to 1080) resulted in a 63% mortality rate in a second group. By comparison, 95 and 100% of naive groups were killed by cholecalciferol and 1080 gel respectively. Practical measures are identified for both avoiding and overcoming bait shyness based on the use of alternative bait types and toxicants.     

Résumés français: Resumes espanoles

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted, using a millet grain bait, to estimate the minimum concentration of 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) needed to produce abnormal behaviour and distress calls in house sparrows (Passer domesticus L.). Three concentrations (0.50, 0.75 and 1.0%) were tested and three doses (6, 18 and 30 mg) were administered by forcing birds to eat one, three or five treated grains. There were differences among the three concentrations in time from dosing to first distress call and in abnormal behaviour, but not in the duration and number of distress calls. At each concentration different doses had different effects. Males emitted more and higher pitched distress calls than did females. It is concluded that concentrations of 0.75 and 1.0% could be effective in reducing damage to cereal crops by house sparrows in Pakistan. The calculated LD₅₀ was 5.9 mg/kg (4.5–7.7 mg/kg, 95% confidence limits).     

The efficacy of Vespex® wasp bait to control Vespula species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Transitioning from trials to pest control tool, the efficacy of controlling wasps Vespula vulgaris and V. germanica using Vespex® wasp bait was tested in 2015. Vespex® is a protein-based bait matrix with 0.1% fipronil. Five sites ranging <300 to >2000 ha and over 5500 ha in total had bait stations placed 300 × 50 m apart and received one application of Vespex®. Wasp nest traffic rates declined 93% in four days at one site, and over 97% after 20–38 days at all other sites. Measured honeydew availability also improved post wasp control. Further demonstrating feasibility, five different agencies worked closely with government leading many programme aspects. Vespex® was made more widely available in New Zealand towards the end of 2015. Web page information showed ～30% of all territorial authorities nationally are engaging in pest wasp problems. This signals a future potential in the way that pest wasps might be managed in a community context for social, economic and biodiversity conservation objectives.     

Efficacy of attract‐and‐kill devices for the control of Ceratitis capitata

BACKGROUND: The control of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann traditionally has relied on chemical control with organophosphate insecticides. The use of many of these substances has been banned by new European directives; therefore, the development of new control methods is essential to manage this pest. Bait sprays with spinosad, mass trapping and lure‐and‐kill techniques have been the base for new integrated pest management programmes. In this study, a 2 year field trial was conducted in two citrus areas to test the efficacy of attract‐and‐kill devices against mass trapping and spinosad‐plus‐bait treatments. RESULTS: The Magnet^® MED attract‐and‐kill device, Spintor^® treatments and mass trapping achieved good control of C. capitata populations, as confirmed by low percentages of damaged fruit in the assessments performed during the harvest period. On the other hand, fly population levels on plots treated with other attract‐and‐kill prototype devices increased more than threefold by comparison with the populations recorded in the rest of the treated plots. The same effect was observed for fruit damage, with 6–8 times less damage with Magnet^® MED and spinosad treatments, respectively, than with the attract‐and‐kill prototype devices. CONCLUSION: By using an effective attractant, conventional trapping systems can be replaced with cheaper and easier‐to‐handle attract‐and‐kill devices. The efficacy of these devices and their advantages over conventional mass trapping systems are discussed. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Test validation for the detection of Tilletia indica Mitra by multiplex real‐time PCR

Tilletia indica Mitra is a fungal pathogen causing Karnal bunt of wheat. Tilletia indica is a quarantine pest in many countries worldwide. In the European Union, imported wheat grain from countries where the fungus is present must be checked for the presence of T. indica teliospores. The inspection services at the borders need rapid, sensitive and reliable detection tests to identify T. indica spores on wheat grain. In this work, validation was carried out according to EPPO Standard PM 7/98 to evaluate the multiplex real‐time PCR test described in ISPM 27 Diagnostic Protocol for regulated pests (Annex 4 Tilletia indica Mitra) by means of a test performance study with nine participating laboratories, and the performance characteristics of the test were established. The original protocol was modified with regard to the extraction of DNA from the pellet obtained from the ‘washing test’ and the enrichment PCR step in order to increase the amount of template DNA for the real‐time PCR. The optimized test still has five teliospores as the limit of detection for the contaminated pellet but has an increased analytical sensitivity and had positive results with three teliospores in 93% of cases instead of 43% for the original test. The two closest Tilletia species, Tilletia horrida and Tilletia walkeri, were used to evaluate analytical specificity (exclusivity) and no cross‐reactions were obtained. Diagnostic sensitivity, diagnostic specificity, accordance and concordance were also evaluated.     

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     

Pesticides and the Honey Bee

Abstract

In wheat fields, irrigated with treated sewage water, the performance of six herbicides: bromoxynil/MCPA; bentazon/ dichlorprop; diclofop‐methyl; tralkoxydim; pendimethalin and bromophenoxim; and some their combinations were assessed at two different locations around the city of Riyadh. The common weeds include: Lolium spp.; Phalaris spp.; Avena spp.; Malva spp.; Chenopodium spp. and others. The best weed control treatments were: bentazon/dichlorprop followed by bromoxynil/MCPA for the broad‐leaved, and diclofop‐methyl followed by tralkoxydim for the grassy weeds. The combinations of bromoxynil/MCPA with either pendimethalin or tralkoxydim were far more effective against the broad‐leaved weeds, and significantly improved the wheat growth and yield, compared with the single treatments. However, bromoxynil/MCPA combination with diclofop‐methyl was less effective against the grassy and broad‐leaved weeds than each of them. Bromophenoxim showed an effective control of the whole weeds, with appreciable improvement in the wheat growth and yield.     

Laboratory and field cage studies on female‐targeted attract‐and‐kill bait stations for Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

BACKGROUND: Development of attract‐and‐kill bait stations for pest fruit flies has been limited by the water solubility of sugar needed as a feeding stimulant and by the volatility of chemical attractants. A wax‐based matrix was developed that provides the longevity needed for field use and is biodegradable. RESULTS: Laboratory bioassays with the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew), confirmed the efficacy of bait stations containing avermectin, methomyl, spinosad and phloxine B. Field cage studies demonstrated that significant mortality occurred with either 1% (w/v) spinosad or 1% (w/v) methomyl bait stations versus pesticide‐free bait stations. Bait stations were exposed to environmental conditions by placing them in trees at the ARS station in Miami, Florida, between tests. There was no loss in efficacy, in spite of exposure to over 360 mm of rainfall over the 56 days of the study, indicating that the bait stations could provide population suppression for at least 1–2 months when used in subtropical environments. CONCLUSION: A long‐lasting, female‐targeted fruit fly bait station, such as the one developed herein, could provide a cost‐effective option for fruit fly population suppression that would be an important tool in tephritid pest management and control. Additional studies are needed to demonstrate efficacy against wild fruit fly populations and determine deployment strategies. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Performance studies with the new anticoagulant rodenticide,flocoumafen, against Mus domesticus and Rattus norvegicus1

Flocoumafen is a new, highly potent anticoagulant rodenticide from Shell Research. It is effective against all the economically important species tested to date, including those with warfarin-resistant strains. This paper is concerned with its performance against two important commensal rodent species, Mus domesticus and Rattus norvegicus. In laboratory studies these two pest species may absorb a lethal dose of flocoumafen by taking a 0.005% (50 ppm) bait as part of their food intake on only one occasion. This single-feed potency of flocoumafen, combined with its good intrinsic palatability, makes it ideal for use in pulse baiting. Marketed under the Shell trade mark Storm, the principal bait formulation selected for commercialization is the wax-bound block. Recent advances in formulation development include increased resistance to attack by insects and fungi and the incorporation of a bitter taste which acts as a deterrent for humans without influencing the palatability of the bait to rodents. Flocoumafen's outstanding potency has been confirmed in a wide range of field trials. In the UK alone, almost 70 pen and field trials have been successfully completed with a mean estimated control in excess of 95%.     

Laboratory and field trials of the rodenticide brodifacoum against warfarin-resistant Norway rats

Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) trapped in a low-income housing area in Raleigh, North Carolina, and on a poultry farm in Garner, North Carolina, manifested high levels of resistance to warfarin in laboratory tests. Of the rats tested, 59.1 and 91.7% from the Raleigh and Garner trap sites, respectively, survived a 6-day no-choice test of a diet containing 0.005 % warfarin. The warfarin-resistant rats were subsequently given a choice of a 0.005% brodifacoum bait and a placebo diet. Of 27 rats, 19 died after a 3-day test. Survivors had consumed significantly less brodifacoum (0.1 < P > 0.05) than those that died, but the survivors also died when subjected to an additional 1-day no-choice test of the brodifacoum bait. Field trials, in which warfarin-resistant rats in four poultry houses were fed with poison bait for 14–16 days with 0.005% brodifacoum in a pelletised bait (‘Talon’), resulted in 87–99 % control being achieved.     

Brodifacoum is effective against Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) in a tyrosine139cysteine focus of anticoagulant resistance in Westphalia,Germany

BACKGROUND: The tyrosine to cysteine amino acid substitution at location 139 of the vkorc1 protein (i.e. tyrosine139cysteine or Y139C) is the most widespread anticoagulant resistance mutation in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) in Europe. Field trials were conducted to determine the incidence of the Y139C mutation at two rat‐infested farms in Westphalia, Germany, and to estimate the practical efficacy against them of applications, using a pulsed baiting treatment regime, of a proprietary bait (Klerat^?) containing 0.005% brodifacoum. RESULTS: DNA analysis for the Y139C mutation showed that resistant rats were prevalent at the two farms, with an incidence of 80.0 and 78.6% respectively. Applications of brodifacoum bait achieved results of 99.2 and 100.0% control at the two farms, when measured by census baiting, although the treatment was somewhat prolonged at one site, possibly owing to the abundance of attractive alternative food. CONCLUSION: The study showed that 0.005% brodifacoum bait is fully effective against Norway rats possessing the Y139C mutation at the Münsterland focus and is likely to be so elsewhere in Europe where this mutation is found. The pulsed baiting regime reduced to relatively low levels the quantity of bait required to control these two substantial resistant Norway rat infestations. Previous studies had shown much larger quantities of bromadiolone and difenacoum baits used in largely ineffective treatments against Y139C resistant rats in the Münsterland. These results should be considered when making decisions about the use of anticoagulants against resistant Norway rats and their potential environmental impacts. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

灭草特在水稻秧田应用技术研究

在毒鼠时机、毒饵布放位置及药物剂量一致的条件下,用不同饵料防治稻田害鼠,O.005％大隆稻谷毒饵灭鼠效果达91.8％,0.005％大隆大米毒饵灭鼠效果为79.6％。0.2％敌鼠钠盐稻谷毒饵灭效则为96.2％。以相同的或不同的大隆剂量、不同饵料、不同加药方法对4组笼养黄毛鼠作1次投毒试验,其结果与急性杀鼠剂1次毒杀效果相同,但试鼠呈慢性死亡过程。剖检症状为内出血。本试区仅初次使用第一代抗凝血剂——敌鼠钠盐,尚未产生抗药性的老鼠种群。大隆杀鼠剂,可作为今后出现“超级老鼠”时的接替品种。     

Comparing rice germplasm groups for growth, grain yield and weed-suppressive ability under aerobic soil conditions

Germplasm and cultivars need to be selected as parents for breeding weed‐competitive aerobic rice in the tropics. Forty rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars belonging to the aus, indica and tropical japonica germplasm groups, or derived from crosses among them, were evaluated in adjacent weed‐free and weedy trials in aerobic soil conditions during the wet seasons of 2001–2003. The objectives of this study were to assess vegetative growth, grain yield under weed‐free (Y_F) and weedy (Y_W) conditions, and weed‐suppressive ability (WSA) of different germplasm groups. In the first 4 weeks after sowing, indica cultivars had faster growth in height, tillering and crop biomass than other groups. They also had high Y_F, Y_W and strong WSA. Aus cultivars were similar to the indica types in early growth and WSA, but were poor in Y_F. Tropical japonica groups and the group derived from indica/tropical japonica crosses were generally inferior to aus and indica groups in early growth and WSA. Both of their Y_F and Y_W were lower than that of the indica group. Therefore, indica germplasm seemed to be most suitable for breeding high‐yielding and weed‐suppressive aerobic rice for the tropics. The relationship of WSA with various traits within tropical japonica germplasm revealed that fast early growth, rather than plant erectness, is crucial to WSA.