Impact of pesticides on colony living in ants

Anthropocene is not only seeing a massive decline in insect species but also documenting an unprecedented increase in the use of pesticides globally. While the impact of pesticides has been examined in some non-target insects like honeybees, very few investigations have targeted ants. This review consolidates information on the impact of anthropogenic pesticide exposure on ant colony dynamics, fecundity, and survival. While a couple of studies showcased ants' resilience upon exposure to pesticides, the majority reported negative impacts. Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides caused behavioural impairment and negatively impacted foraging and fecundity when exposed through direct or indirect routes. Individual behaviours as well as social interactions at intraspecific and interspecific levels were disrupted. Furthermore, the combinatorial effects of pesticides together with pathogens exhibited negative outcomes for ants. We conclude that future research that adopts an integrative behavioural-ecotoxicological framework emphasising field-relevant dosage and exposure routes is required, particularly in Asia and Africa, to understand the full effects on non-target ants.