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Insecticide Transfer Efficiency and Lethal Load in Argentine Ants.
L M Hooper-Bui1, E S C Kwok2, B A Buchholz3
1Department of Environmental Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 ; Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521.
Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
|October 28, 2015
Summary
Trophallaxis, or food sharing, influences toxicant distribution in Argentine ants. Higher hydramethylnon and fipronil levels in dead ants suggest impacts on pest control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pest Management
- Entomology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) are invasive pests.
- Understanding toxicant dynamics is crucial for effective control.
- Trophallaxis plays a significant role in ant colony communication and resource distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between trophallaxis and toxicant load in Argentine ants.
- To quantify the distribution of hydramethylnon and fipronil in live and dead ants.
- To inform pest control strategies by examining toxicant transfer and accumulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to trace 14C-labeled sucrose, hydramethylnon, and fipronil.
- Analyzed toxicant levels in individual live and dead worker ants and queens.
- Quantified the percentage of crop content shared during trophallaxis between single ants.
Main Results:
- Approximately 50% of crop content, including toxicants, was shared between donor and recipient ants.
- Dead ants (workers and queens) exhibited significantly higher concentrations of hydramethylnon compared to live ants.
- Dead workers had significantly more fipronil than live workers, while queen fipronil levels were similar between live and dead individuals.
Conclusions:
- Trophallaxis facilitates the transfer of toxicants within ant colonies.
- Differential toxicant accumulation in dead versus live ants impacts control efficacy.
- Colony resurgence may be linked to queen survival due to sublethal doses and altered trophallaxis, necessitating tailored bait strategies.
