Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Foraging Activity Response to Selected Containerized Baits

Abstract

Bait acceptance and effect of toxic bait consumption on the foraging activity of field colonies of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), were assessed. Nine individual colonies were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: a containerized bait containing 0.5% sulfluramid in a peanut butter matrix, a containerized bait containing 0.9% hydramethylnon in an insect pupae-fish meal matrix, and an untreated control. Ant foraging activity was measured using honey-water monitoring stations placed at 0, 1, and 3 m from the colony nest-site. Both containerized baits reduced ant foraging activity to zero ants per monitor within 6 wks, if the equivalent of one containerized bait station was consumed by the colony.