Effects of liquid insecticide baits on Argentine ants in California's coastal vineyards

Novel Approaches for the Management of Mealybug Pests

“…Some ant species may switch between tending and preying on mealybugs (Degen and Gersani 1989;Mittler and Douglas 2003;Way 1963). The tended mealybugs benefit from the protection against natural enemies, and the removal of honeydew prevents contamination, which may be especially detrimental to first-instar nymphs (Cudjoe et al 1993;Daane et al 2006bDaane et al , 2007Gullan and Kosztarab 1997;Moreno et al 1987). The disruption of the activity of natural enemies by ants provides a temporal refuge for mealybugs (Gutierrez et al 2008a), but some mealybug predators, such as coccinellids, apparently become tolerated by ants by mimicking the waxy body cover of the mealybugs .…”

Liquid baits control Argentine ants sustainably in coastal vineyards

“…Ant control in vineyards has been investigated using granular protein baits for Formica species (Klotz et al 2003;Tollerup et al 2004) and liquid sugar baits for Argentine ants (Daane, Sime, et al 2006;Daane et al 2008;Nelson and Daane 2007 Klotz et al (2002) and described in detail by Daane, Sime, et al (2006).…”

“…Results from the 2002 trial showed that liquid baits could, in principle, be used to lower Argentine ant densities (Daane, Sime, et al 2006). However, in practice grower adoption would require answers to the following critical questions: What toxicant would be used, and would it be available as a commercial formulation?…”

“…However, valuable lessons were learned and applied to subsequent trials, in which measurable differences were recorded among treatments (Daane, Sime, et al 2006). First, bait stations left in the field for longer than 3 weeks, without the addition of preservative, fouled as the sugar fermented.…”

Foraging Activity and Seasonal Food Preference of <I>Linepithema micans</I> (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a Species Associated With the Spread of <I>Eurhizococcus brasiliensis</I> (Hemiptera: Margarodidae)

“…One strategy to reduce infestation by E. brasiliensis in vineyards is to control L. micans through the use of toxic baits (Nondillo 2013), as with Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South Africa and California (Addison and Samways 2000;Daane et al 2006Daane et al , 2007Cooper et al 2008;Nyamukondiwa 2008). A basic requirement for success in the use of toxic baits is knowledge of the foraging period and seasonal food preferences, which will guide the choice of attractive ingredients for bait (Markin 1970, Abril et al 2007.…”