Title: | Combined use of a synthetic trail pheromone and insecticidal bait provides effective control of an invasive ant |
Author(s): | Sunamura E; Suzuki S; Nishisue K; Sakamoto H; Otsuka M; Utsumi Y; Mochizuki F; Fukumoto T; Ishikawa Y; Terayama M; Tatsuki S; |
Address: | "Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. eirikisunamura@yahoo.com" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1526-4998 (Electronic) 1526-498X (Linking) |
Abstract: | "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 m(2) 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" |
Keywords: | Animals *Ants Feeding Behavior/*drug effects Insect Control/*methods *Insecticides Pheromones/*pharmacology; |
Notes: | "MedlineSunamura, Eiriki Suzuki, Shun Nishisue, Koji Sakamoto, Hironori Otsuka, Megumi Utsumi, Yosaburo Mochizuki, Fumiaki Fukumoto, Takehiko Ishikawa, Yukio Terayama, Mamoru Tatsuki, Sadahiro eng Comparative Study Evaluation Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/04/27 Pest Manag Sci. 2011 Oct; 67(10):1230-6. doi: 10.1002/ps.2172. Epub 2011 Apr 21" |