Let them eat termites—prey‐baiting provides effective control of Argentine ants, <i>Linepithema humile</i>, in a biodiversity hotspot

Buczkowski, Grzegorz; Mothapo, Natasha Palesa; Wossler, Theresa C.

doi:10.1111/jen.12501

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…One of the most important goals is to develop effective ant control strategies while minimizing negative environmental impact. Recent developments in this area include hydrogel baits, prey‐baiting based on the use of poisoned prey, and pheromone‐assisted baiting . The current study evaluated a novel, target‐specific approach for managing pest ants based on a three‐step method of trap–treat–release.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recently, fipronil has been used in a prey‐baiting approach. Results from field studies demonstrate that prey‐baiting using fipronil‐treated prey is highly effective in controlling invasive ants such as Asian needle ants and Argentine ants . Fipronil is also readily transferred among ants because of its non‐repellency, relatively slow speed of action, and delayed toxicity .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trap–treat–release: horizontal transfer of fipronil in field colonies of black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Buczkowski

2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND: Horizontal insecticide transfer is thought to play an important role in controlling a wide range of urban pests including ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, and termites. Despite decades of research and numerous laboratory studies, horizontal transfer has never been demonstrated in the field. As a result, the importance of horizontal transfer (and the resulting secondary kill) for practical pest management remains unknown. The goal of this study was to provide the first experimental examination of horizontal transfer under field conditions. The specific objective was to investigate horizontal transfer of fipronil in field colonies of black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus. RESULTS: Laboratory experiments demonstrated that fipronil is effectively transferred from treated donors to untreated recipients and causes significant secondary mortality. Fipronil was effectively vectored to untreated ants from donors exposed via residual and direct spray applications, and 100% mortality was achieved with both exposure routes. Furthermore, horizontal transfer continued beyond secondary mortality and resulted in significant tertiary mortality, which has not been previously demonstrated in ants. Field experiments utilized a novel, three-step control method consisting of trap-treat-release and demonstrated that fipronil is effectively transferred when foraging workers are trapped, treated, and subsequently released back into their colonies. CONCLUSION:The current study is the first field demonstration of the importance of horizontal transfer for the control of pest ants. The trap-treat-release method may be an effective alternative to broadcast spray applications and could help alleviate problems such as insecticide run-off, environmental contamination, and non-target effects. This method has the potential to provide effective management of invasive and pest ants and should be further tested across a wider range of ant species, habitats, and active ingredients.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trap–treat–release: horizontal transfer of fipronil in field colonies of black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Buczkowski

2019

Pest Management Science

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“…For example, the populations of leaf‐cutting ants can be managed when they become pests, usually through chemical control, to reduce herbivory rates and thus to enhance crop productivity (Della Lucia, Gandra & Guedes, 2014). Similarly, we can manage the populations of invasive ants to restore the invaded communities and their associated ESs (Buczkowski, Mothapo & Wossler, 2018; Ujiyama & Tsuji, 2018).…”

Section: Management Of Social Insects To Enhance Ecosystem Services Amentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecosystem services provided by social insects: traits, management tools and knowledge gaps

et al. 2020

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Social insects, i.e. ants, bees, wasps and termites, are key components of ecological communities, and are important ecosystem services (ESs) providers. Here, we review the literature in order to (i) analyse the particular traits of social insects that make them good suppliers of ESs; (ii) compile and assess management strategies that improve the services provided by social insects; and (iii) detect gaps in our knowledge about the services that social insects provide. Social insects provide at least 10 ESs; however, many of them are poorly understood or valued. Relevant traits of social insects include high biomass and numerical abundance, a diversity of mutualistic associations, the ability to build important biogenic structures, versatile production of chemical defences, the simultaneous delivery of several ESs, the presence of castes and division of labour, efficient communication and cooperation, the capacity to store food, and a long lifespan. All these characteristics enhance social insects as ES providers, highlighting their potential, constancy and efficiency as suppliers of these services. In turn, many of these traits make social insects stress tolerant and easy to manage, so increasing the ESs they provide. We emphasise the need for a conservation approach to the management of the services, as well as the potential use of social insects to help restore habitats degraded by human activities. In addition, we stress the need to evaluate both services and disservices in an integrated way, because some species of social insects are among the most problematic invasive species and native pests. Finally, we propose two areas of research that will lead to a greater and more efficient use of social insects as ES providers, and to a greater appreciation of them by producers and decision‐makers.

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“…The main goal of such efforts is to minimize negative environmental impact, specifically pesticide residues that might have non-target effects. Recent developments in this area include hydrogel baits 24–26 , prey-baiting based on the use of insecticide-treated prey 27,28 , and pheromone-assisted baiting 29,30 . Another new development is exploiting social interactions within colonies to promote the spread of insecticides through horizontal transfer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Controlling invasive Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, in conservation areas using horizontal insecticide transfer

Buczkowski

Wossler

2019

Sci Rep

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Invasive ants are major agricultural and urban pests and a significant concern in conservation areas. Despite long history of control and eradication efforts, invasive ants continue to spread around the globe driven by a multitude of synergistic factors. Lack of effective management tools is one of the biggest challenges in controlling invasive ants. The goal of the current study was to improve the efficacy and safety of ant management and to develop effective control strategies for sensitive conservation areas. We utilized the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) as a model system to evaluate a target-specific pesticide delivery system that exploits the interconnected nature of social insect colonies to distribute a toxicant effectively within the colony. The approach, based entirely on horizontal transfer, takes advantage of various levels of social interactions in ant colonies to disseminate a toxicant throughout the colony. Results of laboratory studies coupled with LC/MS/MS analysis demonstrate that fipronil is toxic to Argentine ants in extremely small (nanogram) quantities and is efficiently transferred from a single treated donor to multiple recipients, causing significant secondary mortality. A field study was conducted in native fynbos plots invaded by Argentine ants. The study consisted of collecting naïve workers, treating them with fipronil, and releasing them within invaded plots. Results show that the release of fipronil-treated ants reduced Argentine ant abundance by >90% within 24 h. The horizontal transfer approach offers environmental benefits with regard to pesticide use in ecologically sensitive environments and appears ideally suited for ant management in conservation areas.

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Let them eat termites—prey‐baiting provides effective control of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, in a biodiversity hotspot

Cited by 21 publications

References 48 publications

Trap–treat–release: horizontal transfer of fipronil in field colonies of black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Trap–treat–release: horizontal transfer of fipronil in field colonies of black carpenter ants, Camponotus pennsylvanicus

The ecosystem services provided by social insects: traits, management tools and knowledge gaps

Controlling invasive Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, in conservation areas using horizontal insecticide transfer

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