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Pest Manag Sci

Title:		Synthetic pheromones as a management technique - dispensers reduce Linepithema humile activity in a commercial vineyard
Author(s):		Westermann FL; Bell VA; Suckling DM; Lester PJ;
Address:		"School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Christchurch, New Zealand"
Journal Title:		Pest Manag Sci
Year:		2016
Volume:		20150624
Issue:		4
Page Number:		719 - 724
DOI:		10.1002/ps.4043
ISSN/ISBN:		1526-4998 (Electronic) 1526-498X (Linking)
Abstract:		"BACKGROUND: Invasive ants, such as the Argentine ant, have often been reported to facilitate honeydew-producing hemipteran pests such as mealybugs, which can be vectors of plant pathogens. Synthetic pheromones may offer a target-specific method to control such ants and consequently lower the abundance of honeydew-producing pests. Here we report the results of a trial to suppress Argentine ants in grapevines using ant pheromone dispensers. RESULTS: Compared with untreated controls, we observed a significant drop in Argentine ant activity on the ground, irrespective of whether pheromone dispensers were placed at ground level, within the canopy or in both locations. Ant counts in the canopy confirmed that Argentine ant abundance was reduced under the influence of the pheromone dispenser placed at ground level compared with untreated controls. However, placing dispensers only in the canopy did not reduce the numbers of ants within the canopy compared with untreated controls. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that pheromone dispensers can significantly reduce Argentine ant foraging in grapevines if they are positioned appropriately. This technique could potentially reduce the abundance of associated mealybugs and potentially attendant virus vectoring areawide"
Keywords:		"Animals Ants/*drug effects *Farms *Pest Control, Biological Pheromones/chemical synthesis/*pharmacology Vitis/growth & development Linepithema humile agricultural pests ant invasive species mealybug pheromone;"
Notes:		"MedlineWestermann, Fabian L Bell, Vaughn A Suckling, David M Lester, Philip J eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2015/05/23 Pest Manag Sci. 2016 Apr; 72(4):719-24. doi: 10.1002/ps.4043. Epub 2015 Jun 24"