Timing bait applications for control of imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Mississippi: efficacy and effects on non-target ants

• Published in: International journal of pest management Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 121 - 130
• Main Authors: Vogt, J.T, Reed, J.T, Brown, R.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.04.2005; Washington, DC Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: application timing; Bait; baiting; baits; Biological and medical sciences; broadcast baits; fire ant control; fire ants; foraging; Formicidae; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hydramethylnon; indigenous species; insect control; insecticidal baits; Monomorium minimum; native ants; non-target effects; nontarget organisms; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; population density; Solenopsis richteri; Solenopsis richteri x invicta; species diversity; Mississippi; United States; North America; America; Subtropical zone; Formicidae; Application time; Insecta; fire ants; Non target effect; Pest and disease control; foraging; Formicoidea; Foraging behavior; Solenopsis invicta; Pest; Bait; Arthropoda; non-target effects; Application method; Hymenoptera; Invertebrata; Aculeata
• ISSN: 0967-0874; 1366-5863
• DOI: 10.1080/09670870500097478

An experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of mid-day (11:00 - 13:00 h) and late evening (18:00 - 20:00 h) broadcast bait (Seige Pro, 0.73% hydramethylnon) applications against black and hybrid imported fire ants (Solenopsis richteri Forel and S. richteri x invicta, respectively) and their impact on native ant species. It was hypothesized that evening bait applications would have less impact on native ant species that slow or cease foraging at night relative to mid-day applications. Bait was applied to a series of plots in northeastern Mississippi, USA, in summer of 2002 and 2003. Population densities and foraging activity of imported fire ants and native ants were compared between treated and control plots. Population density and foraging activity of imported fire ants were equally suppressed in plots receiving mid-day and evening broadcast bait applications. Population density of Monomorium minimum (Buckley), the little black ant, approached zero in treated plots during 2003 but remained relatively high in untreated control plots. Species richness declined in treated plots with no difference between mid-day and evening bait application. These data indicate that evening bait application offers no advantage over mid-day application in terms of preserving some native ant species.