Effectiveness of allyl isothiocyanate microencapsulated in polyethylene as a repellent against Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) infestation of corrugated cardboard boxes in field experiment

Abstract

Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae; red imported fire ant) is an invasive species in several parts of the world. A major contributor to the spread of S. invicta is infested shipping containers. The vapor of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a naturally occurring organosulfur compound, is highly toxic to S. invicta; however, AITC is highly volatile. Microencapsulation of AITC in polyethylene (PE) resin slows the release of AITC, making it a potentially useful material for preventing S. invicta infestations. Here, we examined the efficacy of AITC microencapsulated in PE (mAITC) as a repellent against S. invicta infestation of cardboard boxes, a common containerized cargo. Using baited cardboard boxes, we found that the number of S. invicta individuals entering boxes containing an mAITC sheet was significantly less than that entering boxes without an mAITC sheet. When a PE cover, which is often used to protect carboard boxes during shipping, was used, vapor concentrations of AITC inside the boxes were increased and the number of S. invicta individuals entering the boxes was reduced almost to zero. These findings indicate that mAITC sheeting, especially in combination with a PE cover, is a promising material for the protection of containerized cardboard-box cargo against S. invicta infestation.

2-Methoxybenzaldehyde effectively repels ants

“…However, following evidence that nontoxic ant repellents can be equally effective and much safer, there has been considerable effort to identify and apply such chemicals, exploiting the chemical sensitivity of ants to manage their negative impacts ( Klotz et al 1997 ). For example, repellent chemicals have been applied around window frames to prevent ants from entering homes, around tree-trunks to prevent ants from foraging in crop-bearing trees, and on the packaging of containerized cargo to prevent ants from consuming shipped goods ( Shorey et al 1992 , 1996 , Hashimoto et al 2022 ).…”