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Simple Summary: Ants fulfill an important ecological function, not only serving as one of the main decomposers but also playing a role in improving soil fertility. Ants may conflict with humans as a pest species in homes and living facilities (e.g., closets, wardrobes, cabinets, and tables), as well as in outdoor facilities (e.g., tables, chairs, and benches). In addition, ants and humans can come into conflict in green spaces (including parks, gardens, and tourist attractions) and can seriously interfere with outdoor leisure and the life and entertainment activities of people (especially children). Therefore, it is a matter of public health and environmental protection to ensure ant prevention by adopting green control technology and not merely by spraying pesticides to kill them. This review mainly focuses on the species and diversity of ants, especially in China, and the research progress of ant tropism regarding phototaxis, chromotaxis, and chemotaxis (i.e., 3-tropisms). Moreover, current research on repellent substances is also summarized, analyzed, and discussed in order to help the application of green prevention and control technology for ant diversity protection and conservation, especially in daily home life and entertainment activities. This field of research is related to ensuring the healthy life of the public and the protection of the ecological environment. Ants are one of the largest insect groups, with the most species and individuals in the world, and they have an important ecological function. Ants are not only an important part of the food chains but are also one of the main decomposers on the Earth; they can also improve soil fertility, etc. However, some species of ants are harmful to human beings, which leads to people's panic or worry about coming into contact with these insects during their daily home life or in their tourism or leisure activities. The presence of ants in indoor living facilities and in outdoor green spaces, parks, gardens, and tourist attractions seriously interferes with the leisure life and entertainment activities of all people (especially children). How can we control ants in these environments? Do we kill them by spraying insecticides, or do we adopt green prevention and control technology for the ecological management of ants? This topic is related to healthy life for the public and the protection of the ecological environment. In this paper, the species and diversity of ants are introduced, and research progress regarding ant tropism is introduced according to the three aspects of phototaxis, chromotaxis, and chemotaxis (i.e., "3-tropisms"). The research on repellent substances from plants and insects and the related ant attractants are also summarized, analyzed, and discussed, in order to help the research and application of green prevention and control technology for ant diversity protection and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a parallel image thinning algorithm and a skeletonization algorithm based on cellular automaton (CA). Cellular automaton is a parallel computation model and a non-linear dynamical system. In this paper, each image pixel is identified as a cell of CA and the change of cell depends on the current state of itself and the state of its neighbors. In a binary image, this paper assumes that the objects (white pixel) are preys which are surrounded by many ants (every black pixels). The movement of ants is controlled by cellular automation. The ants gnaw preys until the preys (objects) become skeleton. The proposed parallel skeletonization algorithm can produce a traditional skeleton with a thin line located in the center of object, and the proposed thinning algorithm can produce a new kind of skeleton which is named as the ants-gnawing skeleton. The computation of ants-gnawing skeleton is faster than the traditional skeleton while it contains more the structural features of image. Benefiting from the properties of cellular automation, the proposed thinning algorithm does not change the basic geometry structure of image, and it is invariant for image rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving node energy consumption efficiency to increase network survival time is one of the main research priorities in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). This work addresses issues with the current ant colony routing algorithm, including uneven node energy, higher communication cost, and routing loop creation. An improved EEABR algorithm (N-EABR, New Energy-efficient ant based routing) is proposed, based on the existing Energy-efficient ant based routing (EEABR) algorithm. This algorithm adds the combination of "pkt_src" (ant packet source address) and "sq_num" (ant packet sequence number) in the node neighbours list and redefines the pheromone updating equation. By sending brief ant packets, this approach efficiently reduces the loop effect and ensures that node energy is distributed evenly throughout the network.The power control based ant colony routing (PCABR)algorithm, which extracts the RSSI value of "Hello" packets to derive the optimal sending power, to conserve the sending energy, and to avoid energy wastage, is further introduced in this paper in order to reduce the energy consumption of nodes when sending packets. The findings of the simulation demonstrate that the N-EEABR and PCABR algorithms both significantly outperform the other methods in terms of path optimisation accuracy and node energy use efficiency and network energy balance. This study is important because it will increase node energy consumption efficiency and network survival time. It also offers helpful suggestions for optimizing routing algorithms for wireless sensor networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fractures are vital to the efficiencies of drilling and completion operation. The purpose of this paper is to characterize and model multiscale natural fractures in shale reservoirs. Based on the seismic and log responses, as well as outcrop and core observations, we divide natural fractures into Macro, Meso, and Micro three scales. Macroscale fractures are the faults picked directly in seismic profiles. Also, Mesoscale fractures are the natural fracture corridors analyzed by ant tracking technique in 3D seismic data. Furthermore, Microscale fractures are the fractures observed in imaging logs and cores. The fracture intensity is obtained by the correlation between ant tracking attributes and fracture density in borehole. The fracture aperture, dip, and azimuth are three main parameters, which are recognized by the loggings and cores. Stochastic modelling is applied to factures. We find that faults identified by the ant tracking result are excellent in line with Macroscale faults interpreted directly from seismic data. In addition, Mesoscale fractures are indicated from the ant tracking result, which are in accord with breakpoint in the well and in keeping with tectonic history of the area. Such high consistency indicates the ant tracking result is reliable. Moreover, image logs and cores reveal that it mainly develops high angle natural fractures and the fracture aperture is about 1 mm. The fracture strike includes three sets (NNW-SSE, NE-SW, and NNE-SSW). The distribution of the natural fractures in discrete fracture network (DFN) system is distributed controlled by the ant tracking result. Comparing the histograms of DFN results and fracture characterized by seismic and logging responses, as well as outcrop and core observation, it suggests that the major part of the observed natural fractures is retained into our DFN model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the use of a novel nature inspired meta-heuristic algorithm namely Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO), which is inspired from the ant lions hunting mechanism to enhance the frequency regulation and optimize the load frequency control (LFC) loop parameters. The frequency regulation issue was formulated as an optimal load frequency control problem (OLFC). The proposed ALO algorithm was applied to reach the best combination of the PID controller parameters in each control area to achieve both frequency and tie-line power flow exchange deviations minimization. The control strategy has been tested firstly with the standard two-area power system, followed by the IEEE three-area Western System Coordinating Council (WSCC) and, lastly, with the large three-area South-Western part of the Mediterranean interconnected power system (SWM): Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. The dynamic performances of the test systems are compared to other approaches available in literature. The simulation results of this research show that ALO algorithm is able to solve LFC problem and achieve less frequency and tie-line power flow deviations than those determined by other methods used in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) plays a significant role in the field of surveillance, monitoring the real time applications. Regardless its strong ability to handle such tasks, it is difficult to maintain a trade-off between the conflicting goals of network lifetime, transmission delay, high coverage and packet loss. Various solutions have been proposed by the researchers to address these issues comprising the solution in real-time network scenarios. This paper delivers a brief analysis of the solutions addressing recent research problems in WSN comprising conflicting goals, i.e. multi-objective optimization (MOO) technique. Firstly, an illustration of key optimization objective in WSNs is given which constitutes existing issues such as power control, rate control ant routing. Then, an elaboration of various objective functions used in MOO with its merits and demerits is also provided. Later, existing approaches for improving optimizing metric, applications performance of existing approaches and proposed architecture have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is an invasive nuisance, agricultural, and ecological pest from South America. In the United States, its primary distribution is in California and the Southeast. The structural pest control industry responds to property owner complaints when this ant's populations become problematic and a persistent nuisance. Actions taken to control Argentine ants in the urban and suburban environment are typically complaint-driven, and often involve the application of insecticide sprays applied to the outdoor environment by professional pest managers. In California, and elsewhere, spray treatments of various residual insecticides by property owners and pest management professionals has resulted in significant runoff and in subsequent surface water contamination. As a result, an immediate need exists to develop alternative methods of ant control targeted at reducing environmental contamination. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for the development of an alternative method of toxicant delivery focused on the Argentine ant's behavior modifying cuticular chemistry. In short, methanol and hexane washes of Argentine ant pupae applied to paper dummies were handled significantly more by worker ants than the paper dummies that did not contain the solvent extracts. Additionally, paper wicks soaked in a methylene chloride wash from Argentine ant cadavers, air dried, and then treated with fipronil, were removed by worker ants and placed on a midden pile at the same rate (≈86% to 99% removal at 1 h) as untreated and fipronil-treated ant cadavers. The paper wicks that did not contain the methylene chloride extract were ignored by the worker ants. After three days, the mortality of the ants exposed to the fipronil-treated wicks or the ant cadavers were dose-related. In conclusion, our study suggests that there is potential for the use of ant semiochemicals for the delivery of acute toxicants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native ants are the oldest example of biological control agents used in tropical tree crops. Unfortunately, intensification of agricultural practices has led to a simplification of habitat and subsequent loss of native ant biodiversity. This paper describes an evaluation of the ants present in a Rwandan coffee plantation. The plantation was unshaded, intensively managed and regularly treated with pesticides. No herbicides or fertilisers were used, although the area had been mulched. Only five ant species were found in the plantation (Pheidole megacephala, Lepisiota depressa, Nesomyrmex angulatus and Camponotus (Myrmosericus) spp. (2 spp.). Pheidole megacephala dominated the plantation and occurred on 94%of trees, while L. depressa, C. (Myrmosericus) spp. and N. angulatus each occurred on 13 % or less of trees. Pheidole megacephala and L. depressa were negatively associated, whereas C. (Myrmosericus) spp. were positively associated with L. depressa. Association between the coffee pests and ant species was not significant. We conclude that intensification of coffee production in this plantation and domination by P. megacephala has contributed to the low diversity of ants present and that those species that do occur there are not particularly efficient at reducing pest densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf-cutting ants are the most important pests in several cropping systems in the Neotropics. Granulated baits containing active ingredients, considered hazardous by the Stockholm Convention, are the usual method to control these ants. Isocycloseram is a new insecticide molecule with high safety margin for mammals, but without registration for the ants in general. Thus, this study investigated the effectiveness of granulated baits with isocycloseram in leaf-cutting ants control under laboratory and field conditions. Initially, the mortality of Atta sexdens workers, fed with dehydrated citrus pulp paste containing different concentrations of isocycloseram was evaluated in the laboratory for 21 days, for toxicological classification. Subsequently, the loading, devolution, and incorporation of baits with different concentrations of isocycloseram and the mortality of A. sexdens colonies were evaluated in the laboratory. After that, the percentages of loading and devolution of baits, foraging activity, and colony mortality treated with 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% of isocycloseram were evaluated for the species A. sexdens, A. laevigata, and Acromyrmex lundii in field conditions. All concentrations of isocycloseram killed more than 15% of ants in 24 h and more than 90% in 21 days in the laboratory, being classified as a fast-acting and highly effective active ingredient. Baits with 0.001 to 0.03% of isocycloseram were highly loaded and exhibited low rate of devolution. The mortality of A. sexdens colony was higher at concentrations between 0.075 and 0.3%, in the laboratory. Baits containing isocycloseram at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.3% were highly loaded, presented low devolution rates, and were highly efficient in controlling A. sexdens, A. laevigata, and A. lundii in the field, at dosages of 6, 10, and 12 g/m² of nest. This is the first report of the use of isocycloseram against leaf-cutting ants, contributing to the development of efficient and toxicologically safer ant baits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest management professionals in California receive more customer complaints about Argentine ants than for any other urban ant pest. Fipronil, applied as a 30 × 30 cm band around the house foundation, has become the preferred treatment used to control these ants. Unfortunately, fipronil is now showing up in urban waterways at levels that are toxic to aquatic invertebrates. Our recent studies are aimed at mitigating insecticide runoff while still controlling the ant infestations. A high priority is preventing fipronil runoff from the driveway to the street, where it can flow into drains and from there to urban waterways. In this paper, two related studies address these issues. Not treating driveways with fipronil reduced by two to three orders of magnitude its runoff when compared with earlier studies. However, not treating the driveway can reduce efficacy of treatments. Granular bifenthrin, indoxacarb, botanicals, and a thiamethoxam ant bait were tested as supplemental treatments. The gel bait showed the best result as a supplement, but only after 8 weeks. We have reduced fipronil runoff while maintaining efficacy of the ant treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The neural network (NN) has an advantage in handling the massive real-time monitoring data on discrete manufacturing. Therefore, this paper proposes a production management and control method for discrete manufacturing job-shops based on ant colony optimization (ACO). Firstly, the production management and control problem for discrete manufacturing job-shops was described through the functional analysis on the management and control system, followed by establishing the corresponding mathematical model. After that, the ACO was improved to solve the static multi-objective production management and control problem. Then, the authors set up an NN-based production management and control model for dynamic discrete manufacturing job-shop, and detailed the way to select and transform the judgement result on production state and to set up the training set. Finally, the effectiveness of our algorithm was verified through experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many natural resource management (NRM) problems transcend farm boundaries. Particularly in hilly regions where land tends to be fragmented among numerous users, managing these biophysical interdependencies to solve transboundary NRM problems implies the coordination of the management decisions of diverse resource users among whom complex social interdependencies are likely to exist. This paper argues that joint learning about the social and biophysical interdependencies existing among users and between the resources they manage is a valuable and often essential element in efforts to improve NRM. Based on action research carried out in the Colombian Andes, the paper presents a process—the stakeholder identification and negotiation process—which facilitates such joint learning using a combination of individual interviews, group meetings and joint problem analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: Imported fire ants are significant pests of urban, agricultural, and medical importance, causing USD billions of annual losses in the United States. Synthetic insecticides are commonly used in their management. The potential adverse effects of synthetic insecticides highlight the need to develop natural-product-based alternatives for fire ant control. Repellants are useful in managing fire ants; for example, repellants can be used to prevent fire ants from invading sensitive areas, such as electrical equipment, nursing homes, and hospitals. In particular, plant-derived natural repellants may provide a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative. This study demonstrates the repellent effects of the plant-essential-oil-derived compounds carvacrol, thymol, and their acetate derivatives against imported fire ants. Carvacrol, a GRAS compound (Generally Recognized As Safe) was the most potent repellent against red, black, and imported fire ants with minimum repellent effective doses of 0.98 µg/g, 7.80 µg/g, and 0.98 µg/g, respectively, followed by thymol, carvacrol acetate, and thymol acetate. Thymol red essential oil containing carvacrol and thymol also showed repellency. These results indicated that carvacrol and thymol as well as essential oils with high contents of carvacrol and/or thymol are potentially useful in managing imported fire ants. In the United States, imported fire ants are commonly referred to as red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren), black imported fire ants (S. richteri Forel), and hybrid imported fire ants (S. invicta × S. richteri). They are significant pests, and their control heavily relies on synthetic insecticides. The extensive use of insecticides has led to public concern about their potential negative effects on human health and the well-being of wildlife and the environment. As an alternative, plant-derived natural compounds, particularly essential oils (EOs) and their main constituents, show promise as safe and environmentally friendly products for controlling fire ants. Repellants are useful in managing fire ants, and plant-derived natural repellants may serve as a safer and more environmentally friendly option. This study investigates the repellency of EO-derived compounds carvacrol, thymol, and their acetates against imported fire ant workers. The results revealed that carvacrol, a GRAS compound (Generally Recognized As Safe), was the most potent repellent against S. invicta, S. richteri, and their hybrid, with minimum repellent effective doses (MREDs) of 0.98 µg/g, 7.80 µg/g, and 0.98 µg/g, respectively. Thymol also exhibited strong repellency, with MREDs of 31.25 µg/g, 31.25 µg/g, and 7.8 µg/g, respectively. Furthermore, thyme-red essential oil, characterized by a thymol chemotype containing 48.8% thymol and 5.1% carvacrol, was found to effectively repel the hybrid ants with an MRED of 15.6 µg/g. In contrast, thyme essential oil, characterized by a linalool chemotype lacking thymol and carvacrol, did not exhibit any repellent effect, even at the highest tested dose of 125 µg/g. This study provides the first evidence of the potent repellency of carvacrol and thymol against imported fire ant workers, indicating their potential as promising repellents for fire ant control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Various organisms emit malodorous secretions against competitors, and the potential use of these secretions in pest management should be investigated. For example, some ant species feed on similar resources as dung beetles, which might have led to counter chemical defences in dung beetles. We tested whether pygidial secretions of the dung beetle Canthon smaragdulus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae) alter the locomotor behaviour of the exotic urban pest ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), specifically whether these secretions repel those ants. We also tested whether the disturbance in the locomotor behaviour of T. melanocephalum increases with the amount of pygidial secretion. We found that individual T. melanocephalum displayed changes in their locomotor behaviour when exposed to pygidial secretions of coupled dung beetles, single males, and single females. Additionally, the pygidial secretions from male and female dung beetles could repel ants. The change in the locomotor behaviour of T. melanocephalum increased with the amount of pygidial secretion. Our results suggest that the pygidial secretions of dung beetles have potential as a biological repellent of T. melanocephalum. Hence, pygidial secretions from dung beetles may be used in the future for the development of urban pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Delottococcus aberiae is an invasive mealybug that produces severe damage in Spanish citrus. This mealybug has established a mutualistic relationship with native Mediterranean ant species that may limit biological control of this pest. Herein, we evaluated the effect of tending ants on the biological control of D. aberiae. To do this, we compared: (i) the density of D. aberiae, (ii) the density of its natural enemies, and (iii) the damage produced by the mealybug in trees with (control) and without ants (ants excluded with sticky barriers) in two citrus orchards across two consecutive years. RESULTS: Lasius grandis was the most abundant ant species in both orchards and represented more than 95% of the ants tending D. aberiae in control trees. Spiders and lacewings were the most abundant predators observed in mealybug colonies, and the exclusion of mutualistic ants increased their abundance. Moreover, in control trees, ant activity throughout the year was negatively correlated with the relative abundance of predators (number of predators per mealybug). No parasitoids were recovered during field experiments. Ant exclusion reduced the density of D. aberiae and the ratio of damaged fruit at harvest across years and orchards. CONCLUSIONS: This work corroborates the previous finding that D. aberiae benefits from its mutualistic relationship with L. grandis, probably because the presence of ants reduced the abundance of generalist predators. This mutualism can be disrupted using physical barriers on on the trunk. Further research should assess other methods of ant control that are more economic and feasible for citrus producers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is an invasive nuisance, agricultural, and ecological pest from South America. In the United States, its primary distribution is in California and the Southeast. The structural pest control industry responds to property owner complaints when this ant’s populations become problematic and a persistent nuisance. Actions taken to control Argentine ants in the urban and suburban environment are typically complaint-driven, and often involve the application of insecticide sprays applied to the outdoor environment by professional pest managers. In California, and elsewhere, spray treatments of various residual insecticides by property owners and pest management professionals has resulted in significant runoff and in subsequent surface water contamination. As a result, an immediate need exists to develop alternative methods of ant control targeted at reducing environmental contamination. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential for the development of an alternative method of toxicant delivery focused on the Argentine ant’s behavior modifying cuticular chemistry. In short, methanol and hexane washes of Argentine ant pupae applied to paper dummies were handled significantly more by worker ants than the paper dummies that did not contain the solvent extracts. Additionally, paper wicks soaked in a methylene chloride wash from Argentine ant cadavers, air dried, and then treated with fipronil, were removed by worker ants and placed on a midden pile at the same rate (≈86% to 99% removal at 1 h) as untreated and fipronil-treated ant cadavers. The paper wicks that did not contain the methylene chloride extract were ignored by the worker ants. After three days, the mortality of the ants exposed to the fipronil-treated wicks or the ant cadavers were dose-related. In conclusion, our study suggests that there is potential for the use of ant semiochemicals for the delivery of acute toxicants.

The eastern migratory population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) has shown evidence of declines in recent years. During early spring, when the population is at its smallest, red imported fire ants (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) have been implicated as having devastating effects on monarch egg and larval survival, but there are no conclusive experimental data to support this contention. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of RIFA on the survival of spring monarch eggs to third instar larvae. Three treatments were analyzed: control plots, RIFA-suppressed plots, and RIFA-enhanced plots. Other host-plant arthropods were also documented. In control plots, monarch survival was unrelated to RIFA abundance on or around the plants. For both years combined, RIFA suppression had little impact on monarch survival. In one of the two years, higher survival occurred in the suppressed treatment, but confidence in this difference was low. In control plots, monarch survival increased with increasing numbers of other arthropods (not including RIFA) on the host plant. Predator pressure did not vary relative to arthropod abundance, and RIFA only occupied plants in large numbers when large numbers of other arthropods were also present. The presence of RIFA did not affect predator pressure. RIFA artificially drawn onto host plants created artificially high predator pressure, and monarch survival was low. Long-term use of bait to control RIFA may not be cost-effective provided surrounding biodiversity is high. Efforts to promote spring monarchs should focus on promoting biodiversity in addition to planting milkweed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ingeniería Agrícola y Biosistemas is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND Attractive toxic baits are the prevailing method for managing leaf-cutting ants in the eucalypt forests planted for the production of pulp, paper, timber and charcoal. For successful use in these baits, the insecticidal compounds need to circumvent the typical defences of the eusocial leaf-cutting ants. The challenge is to have an insecticide in the bait that will not directly harm and/or compromise foraging workers, but that will eventually suppress the colony. These underlying mechanisms are poorly known, and here the potential mechanism of fipronil activity in toxic baits for leaf-cutting ants was assessed using colonies of the representative Neotropical Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus (Forel, 1893). RESULTS Although forager activity was not directly impaired by fipronil, the insecticide affected forager nestmate interactions (auto- and allogrooming) and waste removal and, more importantly, greatly affected the minor workers, impairing their activities of fungus garden cultivation and progeny handling. The fast decay of the fungus garden compromised the sustainability of the colonies, ultimately leading to their demise within 8 days. CONCLUSION The behavioural effects of sublethal insecticide exposure towards minor workers are the main determinants of insecticide activity as ant baits and should be targeted in developing such compounds. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans have used weaver ants, Oecophylla smaragdina, as biological control agents to control insect pests in orchards for many centuries. Over recent decades, the effectiveness of weaver ants as biological control agents has been attributed in part to deterrent and oviposition inhibiting effects of kairomones produced by the ants, but the chemical identity of these kairomones has remained unknown. We have identified the kairomone responsible for deterrence and oviposition inhibition by O. smaragdina, providing a significant advance in understanding the chemical basis of their predator/prey interactions. Olfactometer assays with extracts from weaver ants demonstrated headspace volatiles to be highly repellent to Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni. Using electrophysiology and bioassays, we demonstrate that this repellence is induced by a single compound, 1-octanol. Of 16 compounds identified in O. smaragdina headspace, only 1-octanol evoked an electrophysiological response from B. tryoni antennae. Flies had greatly reduced oviposition and spent significantly less time in an olfactometer arm in the presence of 1-octanol or a synthetic blend of headspace volatiles containing 1-octanol than in the presence of a synthetic blend of headspace volatiles without 1-octanol, or clean air. Taken together, our results demonstrate that 1-octanol is the functional kairomone component of O. smaragdina headspace that explains repellence and oviposition deterrence, and is hence an important contributor to the effectiveness of these ants as biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental impacts of conventional agriculture have generated interest in sustainable agriculture. Biological pest control is a fundamental tool, and ants are key players providing ecological services, as well as some disservices. We have used a meta-analytical approach to investigate the contribution of ants to biological control, considering their effects on pest and natural enemy abundance, plant damage and crop yield. We also evaluated whether the effects of ants are modulated by traits of ants, pests and other natural enemies, as well as by field size, crop system and experiment duration. Overall (considering all meta-analyses), from 52 studies on 17 different crops, we found that ants decrease the abundance of non-honeydew-producing pests, decrease plant damage and increase crop yield (services). In addition, ants decrease the abundance of natural enemies, mainly the generalist ones, and increase honeydew-producing pest abundance (disservices). We show that the pest control and plant protection provided by ants are boosted in shaded crops compared to monocultures. Furthermore, ants increase crop yield in shaded crops, and this effect increases with time. Finally, we bring new insights such as the importance of shaded crops to ant services, providing a good tool for farmers and stakeholders considering sustainable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf‐cutting ants are major pests of Neotropics forest plantations. The lower delta of the Paraná River contains the main Argentine Salicaceae production, strongly attacked by Acromyrmex lundii and Acromyrmex ambiguus. Nevertheless, there is no damage quantification in willow plantations attributed to leaf‐cutting ant species.In an area without leaf‐cutting ant control, we installed 15 blocks with eight willow stakes each: four clones × two treatments; with and without leaf‐cutting ant exclusion. We used two traditional (Americano, Nigra 4) and two new (Géminis, Yaguareté) commercial clones. During 2014–2018, we measured the damaged foliage, height and diameter of each tree.Foliage was damaged intensely during the first 2 years. After 1537 days, the loss in height and diameter was greater in Americano (70%), followed by Géminis (50%–60%), Yaguareté (40%–50%) and Nigra 4 (45%–40%). Stake survival with exclusion was greater (>80%) than stakes without exclusion (<50%). Total loss of wood volume was 93% for Americano, followed by Géminis (77%), Yaguareté (66%) and Nigra 4 (51%).Although the new clones were heavily attacked, they produced two to three times more wood volume than Americano; replacing Americano with the new clones would help to reduce leaf‐cutting ants impact on plantations and pesticides released into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Entomología is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the Neotropics, leaf-cutting ants are pests of great importance to various crops. The natural defenses and complexity of these ants reduce the impact of potentially useful pathogens for biological control. Furthermore, several types of research with entomopathogenic fungi usually focus on only a few isolates of well-known species, like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, in addition to not always use isolates obtained from leaf-cutting ants. Here, we evaluated the pathogenicity of several filamentous fungi to workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa. For that, we used fungi previously isolated in an extensive isolation study in Atta spp. reproductive females. Conidia suspensions of Aspergillus flavus, B. bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea and Purpureocillium lilacinum were prepared to a final concentration of 108 conidia mL− 1. In addition, we included sterilized distilled water as control and commercial B. bassiana as standard. Ant workers were immersed in these treatments for eight seconds. The number of dead workers was counted daily. Several fungal isolates killed more, or faster than the standard B. bassiana, showing that they may have a better potential for use in leaf-cutting ants´ biological control. Additionally, the present study reports for the first time the pathogenicity of P. lilacinum and I. fumosorosea towards Atta workers. Thus, we showed that an extensive and specific prospection is of importance for the development of biopesticides for leaf-cutting ants control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In tropical Africa and Asia, two species of the predatory ant genus, Oecophylla, play a crucial role in protecting tree crops against pests and enhancing the quality of fruits and nuts. As predatory effectiveness is influenced by the presence of other dominant ant species, understanding the ecological factors at work in agroecosystems lies at the basis of conservation biological control. Over three and a half years, the effect of ground vegetation management on the beneficial tree-nesting ant Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) and its competitor, the ground-nesting ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), was studied in a citrus orchard in Tanzania. When ground vegetation was present, P. megacephala tolerated O. longinoda and to some extent cohabited with this ant in citrus trees. However, after clean cultivation, P. megacephala displaced O. longinoda from tree crowns and became the sole occupant of the majority of trees. Displacement could be reversed by reversing the weed management regime, but this took time. Two years after the establishment of ground vegetation about half of the trees were colonized by Oecophylla only. Maintaining ground vegetation in tree crop plantations benefits the establishment and abundance of Oecophylla over Pheidole and is recommended in order to improve the efficiency of biological control of tree pests. The use of Amdro ant bait (hydramethylnon) to control P. megacephala is discussed. Boosting agroecological innovations, such as the one described in this paper, could benefit smallholder producers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

For cutting ants, baits formulations are preferred, since it is the cheapest and easiest way to apply for outdoor conditions. During the development of natural products for cutting ants, citric extracts were examinated in order to perform as baits, for Acromyrmex lundi workers. They were gathered two tests: in laboratory and outdoors conditions. Filtre papers were wet with extracts obtained from: sweet orange, pink pummelo, mandarine orange and bitter orange, and then offered to the workers. The design was RB (random blocks), with free choice. They were recorded: the time last to collect the first disc, and the number of remainder discs. At the lab, within an artificial nest, they were offered 20 discs for every treatment. Outdoors, every block was an individual nest, and they were disposed 10 discs for every treatment, on worker's roads. The mandarine orange extract was that preferred in lab assay, according to the Tukey test. On the other hand, outdoors, pummelo was preferred. Then, for A. lundi, a cutting ant in dycotiledons plants, is reported a preference behavior for different citric species, but there was a dissimilar reaction for lab and outdoor trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Presents a study that examined the sub-lethal effects of abamectin on queens of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus in Brazil. Background on insecticides used to control leaf-cutting ants; Application of a concentration-response bioassay in the study; Factors contributing to colony suppression.

The alternative use of biological control agents (BCAs) against leaf‐cutter ants (LCAs) is in increasingly high demand due to the negative consequences of traditional pesticides. Regarding LCAs, BCAs include entomopathogens that infect them, and mycopathogens that kill the fungi cultivated by these ants. The simultaneous use of multiple BCAs requires that the agents do not negatively affect each other. To test this hypothesis, we set up laboratory assays to evaluate in vitro interactions among an entomopathogen [Beauveria bassiana (Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill.], a mycopathogen [Trichoderma virens (JH Mill., Giddens & AA Foster) Arx], and the LCA‐cultivated symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus sp. We also tested the BCAs in the field by offering them in three types of bait to Acromyrmex lundii Guérin‐Méneville (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in order to evaluate: (1) the control efficiency of these BCAs on LCA field colonies, and (2) whether there was delayed rejection of baits placed sequentially. Our in vitro results showed that T. virens was not affected by Leucoagaricus sp. or by B. bassiana, whereas B. bassiana was negatively affected by the mycopathogen and the cultivated fungus, probably due to substrate competition. Leucoagaricus sp. was not affected by B. bassiana but it was negatively affected by T. virens, as predicted, destroying the cell walls of the cultivated fungus. The field study showed 62.5% control of LCA after applying the three types of bait on three occasions throughout 27 weeks, without detecting any delayed rejection effect. Due to the variability registered in colony inactivity, we propose a continued inactivity of 13 weeks as a criterion for A. lundii control. We discuss the importance of continuous long‐term assessments of BCAs on LCA control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of heterogeneity in group composition remain a major hurdle to our understanding of collective behavior across disciplines. In social insects, division of labor (DOL) is an emergent, colony-level trait thought to depend on colony composition. Theoretically, behavioral response threshold models have most commonly been employed to investigate the impact of heterogeneity on DOL. However, empirical studies that systematically test their predictions are lacking because they require control over colony composition and the ability to monitor individual behavior in groups, both of which are challenging. Here, we employ automated behavioral tracking in 120 colonies of the clonal raider ant with unparalleled control over genetic, morphological, and demographic composition. We find that each of these sources of variation in colony composition generates a distinct pattern of behavioral organization, ranging from the amplification to the dampening of inherent behavioral differences in heterogeneous colonies. Furthermore, larvae modulate interactions between adults, exacerbating the apparent complexity. Models based on threshold variation alone only partially recapitulate these empirical patterns. However, by incorporating the potential for variability in task efficiency among adults and task demand among larvae, we account for all the observed phenomena. Our findings highlight the significance of previously overlooked parameters pertaining to both larvae and workers, allow the formulation of theoretical predictions for increasing colony complexity, and suggest new avenues of empirical study. This study uses automated tracking of clonal raider ants and mathematical modeling to reveal how previously overlooked traits of larvae and workers might shape social organization in heterogeneous ant colonies. By incorporating the potential for variability in task efficiency among adults and task demand among larvae, the authors were able to account for all empirically observed phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is one of the most successful invasive pest ants in the world. We evaluated ylang ylang oil, an essential oil of fragrant yellow flowers of the tree, Cananga odorata, in our effort to search for attractants and repellants for S. invicta management. The results showed that ylang ylang oil elicited clear dose dependent EAG (electroantennography) responses to ants of all castes. We performed EAG on 70 chromatographic fractions from ylang ylang oil. To facilitate the identification of active compounds in each fraction, the fractions which covered strong EAG activity shift were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, revealing that S. invicta exhibited strong olfactory responses to fractions dominated by terpenes or esters. Further EAG analysis showed that prenyl acetate (PA) and benzyl acetate (BA) were key compounds responsible for high EAG amplitude in male alates. In addition, ylang ylang oil, PA and BA were attractive to male and female alates in two-choice attraction bioassay and they also act as attractants at low concentrations to workers in two-choice digging bioassay. Discovery of these behavior-modifying compounds may open up new possibilities for developing better fire ant control products by manipulating chemosensory communication of ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antagonistic interactions between host and parasites are often embedded in networks of interacting species, in which hosts may be attacked by competing parasites species, and parasites may infect more than one host species. To better understand the evolution of host defenses and parasite counterdefenses in the context of a multihost, multiparasite system, we studied two sympatric species, of congeneric fungus‐growing ants (Attini) species and their symbiotic fungal cultivars, which are attacked by multiple morphotypes of parasitic fungi in the genus, Escovopsis. To assess whether closely related ant species and their cultured fungi are evolving defenses against the same or different parasitic strains, we characterized Escovopsis that were isolated from colonies of sympatric Apterostigma dentigerum and A. pilosum. We assessed in vitro and in vivo interactions of these parasites with their hosts. While the ant cultivars are parasitized by similar Escovopsis spp., the frequency of infection by these pathogens differs between the two ant species. The ability of the host fungi to suppress Escovopsis growth, as well as ant defensive responses toward the parasites, differs depending on the parasite strain and on the host ant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern computer numerical control (CNC) is intended to be more flexible, interoperable, adaptable, open, and intelligent. An open CNC control system was developed by added optimization feature in order to create high flexibility, affordable, and fast for STEP-NC drilling applications. Optimization of tool path operation can lead to a significant reduction in non-productive machining time. The newly developed system combines between open CNC control system and ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm by using LabVIEW software. A developed system is based on STEP-NC interpretation, optimization, 3D simulation, and automatic document generation modules that have been used to verify and validate the system in extract and optimize STEP-NC drilling codes. The percentage of tool path improvement was 16.96%. This experimental study will fulfill the design of an open architecture CNC control system, optimize the CNC movement, and simulate and generate a document of the result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we review the literature on the development and application of hydrogel compounds for insect pest management. Researchers have used hydrogel compounds for the past few decades to achieve the controlled release of various contact insecticides, but in recent years, hydrogel compounds have also been used to absorb and deliver targeted concentrations of toxicants within a liquid bait to manage insect pests. The highly absorbent hydrogel acts as a controlled-release formulation that keeps the liquid bait available and palatable to the target pests. This review discusses the use of various types of hydrogel compounds in pest management based on different environmental settings (e.g. agricultural, urban, and natural areas), pest systems (e.g. different taxa), and modes of insecticide delivery (e.g. spray vs bait). Due to their unique physicochemical properties, hydrogel compounds have great potential to be developed into new and efficacious pest management strategies with minimal environmental impact. We will also discuss the future research and development of hydrogels in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafcutter ants are a serious pest for forestry plantations and crops in Latin America. They have been traditionally controlled using chemical synthetic pesticides, which are known to have many negative effects to non-target organisms and the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative strategies of control, among which the biological control using fungal pathogens is a promising one. We evaluated in laboratory 3 strains of Beauveria bassiana (B5, B6, B7) against workers from 4 to 7 field colonies from 5 species of Acromyrmex leafcutter ant species which are considered pests in the region. Our results showed that all strains were pathogenic, although there are some ant species that turned out to be more susceptible either due to their intrinsic immunity or the natural load of pathogens they carried. The three strains were similarly effective for 3 of the 5 species, A. ambiguus, A. crassispinus, and A. lundii, being responsible for more than 80% of their mortality overriding the effect of their natural pathogens. Only strain B6 was able to kill a similar percentage of ants of A. heyeri, and strain B7 half of them. B5 in A. heyeri, as well as all three strains in A. lobicornis, were responsible for up to 30% of the mortality, but with the additive effect of the pathogens naturally brought by these ants accounted for a 70% of their mortality. We recommend using B6 to test the control of Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supergenes underlie striking polymorphisms in nature, yet the evolutionary mechanisms by which they arise and persist remain enigmatic. These clusters of linked loci can spread in populations because they captured coadapted alleles or by selfishly distorting the laws of Mendelian inheritance. Here, we show that the supergene haplotype associated with multiple-queen colonies in Alpine silver ants is a maternal effect killer. All eggs from heterozygous queens failed to hatch when they did not inherit this haplotype. Hence, the haplotype specific to multiple-queen colonies is a selfish genetic element that enhances its own transmission by causing developmental arrest of progeny that do not carry it. At the population level, such transmission ratio distortion favors the spread of multiple-queen colonies, to the detriment of the alternative haplotype associated with single-queen colonies. Hence, selfish gene drive by one haplotype will impact the evolutionary dynamics of alternative forms of colony social organization. This killer hidden in a social supergene shows that large nonrecombining genomic regions are prone to cause multifarious effects across levels of biological organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phorid flies (Diptera: Phoridae, Metopinini) are natural enemies of leafcutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Attini), which are among the most important pests in the Neotropical region. These parasitoids lay their eggs inside worker ants, causing the death of the parasitized ants, and the oviposition attacks on foraging workers interfere with the collection of vegetal material used in fungal gardens, thereby affecting the whole colony. However, because of the large number of ants per colony, more than one type of biological control agent is needed to have a significant impact. We collected parasitized leafcutter ants Acromyrmex lundii (Guérin‐Méneville), Acromyrmex heyeri (Forel), and Acromyrmex ambiguus (Emery) from various places in Argentina and reared their parasitoids. We recorded developmental times, host and phorid sizes, and other aspects of the biology of the phorids Apocephalus neivai Borgmeier, Apocephalus noetingerorum Brown & Disney, Myrmosicarius gracilipes Borgmeier, Myrmosicarius catharinensis Borgmeier, Myrmosicarius crudelis Borgmeier, and Myrmosicarius cristobalensis Disney et al. This is the first record of A. ambiguus, an important pest of pine plantations, being a host of phorids. We found the first cases of gregarious parasitoidism of a parasitoid with no‐free pupae: M. catharinensis on A. lundii ants. We also evaluated the effect on pupal survival of two cosmopolitan fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. and Trichoderma lentiforme (Rehm) Chaverri et al., which are also considered as potential biological control agents of leafcutter ants. Suspensions of conidia were tested on Myrmosicarius and Apocephalus parasitoid pupae of different ages. No negative effect on pupal survival was found under either fungal treatment. Therefore, the use of both natural enemies separately but simultaneously, or the introduction of fungi‐inoculated pupae in the pest habitats, seems to be a promising strategy for the multiple biological control of leafcutter ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pest ants-related predicament is increasing in urban area and becoming a problem for most of the citizen. The most common approach for pest ants' control is the application of various insecticide spray. However, the long-term insect pest control must not be dependent on synthetic insecticides with many negative effects. Repellence and insecticidal effects from plants, Citrus hystrix, Mentha piperita and Ocimum basilicum have been reputed for different type of insect pests. The combination of an effective botanical insecticide and gel bait is ideal for the treatment of insect pests. In this study, the repellence and insecticidal effects of plant extracts obtained from three plant species with various concentrations (3 x 105, 5 x 105, 7 x 105, and 1 x 106 ppm) were against common urban pest ants, Tapinoma indicum, Pheidole megacephala and Monomorium pharaonis using repellence, insecticidal and gel bait bioassays. The three plant extracts usually repel ants with the efficacy being dependent on the ants and irrespective of plant species. Repellence and mortality of ants were negatively related to the higher percentage (100% = fully repelled; -100% = fully attracted; 0% = neither repelled nor attracted) of being repelled, the lower the death will be. Moreover, the optimal doses that make the fastest mortality of ants are not consistent between the insecticidal and gel bait bioassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Recent research on multiple invasive ant species has revealed the importance of carbohydrates for achieving high activity levels and outcompeting native ants. However, comparatively little is known about the role of diet and macronutrient preferences for uptake of insecticidal baits used to control invasive ants. We tested whether diet affected yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes Fr Smith) survival and behavior, and whether bait preference would be complementary to past diet. RESULTS: We found that colonies fed only crickets for 28 days had fewer live workers and queens, and less brood per live queen than colonies fed crickets + honeydew but did not differ significantly from colonies fed only honeydew. Colonies that had been fed only crickets were more active (as assessed by interaction with a novel object), retrieved 16–17 times more bait per worker overall, and consumed more of the six bait types than cricket + honeydew and honeydew‐only fed colonies. However, prior diet did not affect bait choice. The two highest sugar bait formulations combined accounted for most of the bait consumed across all treatments (cricket‐only 74.8% ± 28.1; cricket + honeydew 69.2% ± 12.4; honeydew‐only 62.5% ± 30.4). CONCLUSION: Yellow crazy ant colonies fare better without protein than without carbohydrates. Yellow crazy ants ate the most bait when fed only crickets but did not choose baits complementary to their previous diet. Baits in a sugar‐rich carrier may be most effective for the control of yellow crazy ants, regardless of the relative availability of macronutrients. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Insecticide sprays used for ant control cause environmental contamination. Liquid bait is a safe and effective alternative, but it requires bait stations to dispense the toxicant. We developed a biodegradable hydrogel to deliver liquid bait obviating the need for bait stations. RESULTS Alginate hydrogel beads with preferred rigidity and maximum hydration in 25% sucrose solution were engineered by optimizing a crosslinking process. The moisture content of the substrate on which the beads were placed and the relative atmospheric humidity significantly influenced water loss dynamics of the hydrated hydrogel beads. Laboratory choice studies indicated that hydrated hydrogel beads had reduced palatability to foraging ants when they lost ≥50% water. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indicated that the insecticide thiamethoxam added to sucrose solution was absorbed into the hydrogel beads. Hydrogel beads conditioned in sucrose solution with 1 mg L-1 thiamethoxam provided complete control of all castes of Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr) colony by 14 days post treatment in the laboratory trial and provided a 79% reduction in ant activity after 8 weeks in the field trial. CONCLUSION Alginate hydrogel beads provided an effective delivery system for liquid baits laced with low concentrations of insecticide to control Argentine ants. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) is an invasive ant that is a serious pest in the southern United States. Pest control operators and homeowners are challenged to manage pest populations below acceptable thresholds. Contact and bait insecticides are key components of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy, however, little is known about their efficacy. In repellency and efficacy bioassays, N. fulva were not completely repelled by any insecticide tested, although fewer ants crossed a surface treated with Temprid®. Few insecticides provided rapid control. Termidor® and Temprid® were the best performing with mean mortality of 100% in 13.4 and 19.0 days, respectively. In no-choice bait acceptance studies, it was shown that N. fulva generally had greater acceptance of carbohydrate-based ant baits (Advion®, InTiceTM (gel), and InTiceTM (granular)). However, mortality was low for the InTiceTM baits in a 7-day bioassay. Maxforce® Ant Killer Bait Gel and Advance® 375A in the spring and Maxforce® Complete in the summer and fall required the fewest days to reach 100% mortality. Bait active ingredients that resulted in the highest mortality were hydramethylnon and fipronil. These data on the efficacy of commercially available contact and bait insecticides provide valuable information to manage this invasive pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent concerns regarding the impact of traditional synthetic pesticides on nontarget organisms have generated demand for alternative products with lower environmental impact. This demand has led to increasing focus on plant essential oils as sources of new biopesticides. In this study, we demonstrate that the essential oil of the Alaskan yellow cedar, Cupressus nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach, has activity against hybrid imported fire ant workers, Solenopsis invicta Buren × Solenopsis richteri Forel. In digging assays, ants were repelled by nootka oil and digging continued to be suppressed by nearly 50% in nootka oil-treated sand aged 6 mo in the laboratory. Higher worker mortality was also observed in contact and fumigation assays compared to control checks. In a field drench test, mortality of mounds treated with nootka oil lagged behind mounds treated with bifenthrin treatment for 7 wk, but both nootka oil and bifenthrin had higher mortality than the untreated check at the end of the 12-wk evaluation period. In a band application evaluation, nootka oil plots maintained a 90-95% reduction in fire ant mounds from the 2nd to 17th wk, when new mounds began to intrude on the field plots. The quarantine-approved bifenthrin band treatment maintained 100% control from the 2nd to 24th wk. Although the formulation tested here did not perform to Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine standards, other formulations may enable this product to reach 100% control. In addition, nootka oil could be beneficial in situations where ant suppression rather than complete quarantine elimination is the management goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive ants are considered a significant threat to urban, agricultural, and natural habitats worldwide and the control of invasions is often a priority for conservation management. The spread and impact of invasive ants is often controlled using chemical management tools, predominantly toxic baits. The preferred outcome of such interventions is the recovery of indigenous species following the removal of the alien invader. Nonetheless, management actions may have unintended consequences such as non-target impacts. Non-target impacts are often a significant concern in areawide eradication programs because toxic baits are typically attractive to a wide range of animals and may kill non-target fauna, especially other invertebrates., Development of effective techniques to control populations of invasive ants while protecting the non-target fauna is important for conservation of native biodiversity. This study utilised laboratory and field experiments to evaluate a novel approach for managing invasive Asian needle ants ( Brachyponera chinensis) utilising live, insecticide-treated termite prey. The goal was to examine the potential ecological impact of toxic prey-baiting on native ant fauna and to determine if toxic prey-baiting is adequately selective to be used as a tool for eradicating Asian needle ants while preserving native ant communities. Protein marking was used to track the consumption of termite prey by target and non-target ant species., Results demonstrate that prey-baiting using live, fipronil-treated termites is highly effective against Asian needle ants. Furthermore, prey-baiting is highly specific with detrimental effects against the target species and negligible effects on native ants., Results demonstrate a novel management tool for conservation agencies working to eradicate invasive ants globally. While traditional bait treatments are typically non-selective and eradicate a wide range of non-targets, prey-baiting is highly effective and target specific and may offer an effective alternative to traditional bait treatments. Additionally, prey-baiting may provide environmental benefits with regard to pesticide residues in ecologically sensitive environments and other protected landscapes where invasive ants pose a threat to native organisms and must be carefully managed to avoid non-target effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cashew ( Anacardium occidentale L.) is a very important source of income for more than 200,000 farmer households in Vietnam. The present cashew productivity in Vietnam is low and unstable, and pest damage is partly responsible for this. Cashew farmers rely on pesticides to minimize the damage, resulting in adverse impacts on farm environment and farmers' health. Weaver ants ( Oecophylla spp) are effective biocontrol agents of a range of cashew insect pests in several cashewgrowing countries, and these ants are widely distributed in Vietnam. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of weaver ants in cashew orchards in Vietnam. Field surveys and field experiment were conducted in five cashew orchards from July 2006 to January 2008 in Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, and Ba Ria Vung Tau provinces, Vietnam. Based on the field surveys, the most important pests that damage flushing foliar and floral shoots and young cashew fruits and nuts were mosquito bugs, brown shoot borers, blue shoot borers, and fruit-nut borers. The damage caused by each of these pests was significantly lower on trees with weaver ants compared with trees without the ants, showing that the ants were able to keep these pest damages under the control threshold. Regular monitoring of the field experiment showed that weaver ants were similar to insecticides for controlling mosquito bugs, blue shoot borers, fruit-nut borers, leaf rollers, and leaf miners. Aphids did not become major pests in plot with weaver ants. To manage insect pest assemblage in cashew orchards, an integrated pest management using weaver ants as a major component is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several types of potential hazards associated with the use of pesticides, among them, soil contamination during their underground application. The trade-off between control effectiveness and soil contamination can be observed during the control of leaf-cutting ants using thermal fogs in South American agricultural and forest plantations. This work was aimed at simultaneously assessing fog penetration into the soil around the application point, as a measure of contamination, and fog presence inside nest chambers of the grass-cutting ant Atta capiguara, as a measure of control effectiveness. For that, we have implanted fog sensors both into the soil around the application point and inside fungus chambers. Results showed that thermal fogging can be considered as an effective way for controlling leaf-cutting ants, since fog actually entered into the fungus chambers of A. capiguara after an average of 7 min. Nevertheless, after 3 min, i.e. long before reaching the fungus chambers, fog penetrated laterally 0.5 m into the soil, and at a depth of 1 m. At the time the fungus chambers were reached, the fog extended over 1.5 m across the soil. Thus, assuming a radial spread of fog, the total volume of contaminated soil around the application point averaged almost one cubic meter. Given the need of using thermal fogging for the control of Atta leaf-cutting ants due to both the economic damage they produce and the lack of other effective control methods under particular circumstances, associated environmental costs of thermal fogging as well as possible mitigation measures are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]