Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
Delicious
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon
Liquid baits control Argentine ants sustainably in coastal vineyards
Authors
Monica L. CooperKent M. Daane
Erik H. Nelson
Lucia G. Varela
Mark C. Battany
Neil D. Tsutsui
Michael K. Rust
Authors Affiliations
M. L. Cooper is Staff Research Associate, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley; K.M. Daane is Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley; E.H. Nelson is Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley; L.G. Varela is Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Advisor, UC Statewide IPM Program and UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Sonoma County; M.C. Battany is Farm Advisor, UCCE San Luis Obispo County; N.D. Tsutsui is Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley; M.K. Rust is Professor, Department of Entomology, UC Riverside.Publication Information
Hilgardia 62(4):177-183. DOI:10.3733/ca.v062n04p177. October 2008.
PDF of full article, Cite this article
Abstract
Liquid ant baits are an alternative to broad-spectrum insecticide sprays conventionally used to control Argentine ants. We review the development of liquid ant baits, which capitalize on the ants' sugar-feeding requirements and social structure to deliver small doses of toxicant throughout the colony. The ant bait program described here, developed for commercial vineyards, also has the potential to facilitate the use of biological controls for mealybug and scale pests. The implementation of an Argentine ant bait program will enable grape growers to target other pests more selectively with insecticides, further contributing to their sustainable viticulture practices.
References
Aron S, Keller L, Passera L. Role of resource availability on sex, caste, reproductive allocation ratios in the Argentine ant Linepithema humile. J Anim Ecol. 2001. 70:831-9. doi:10.1046/j.0021-8790.2001.00545.x https://doi.org/doi:10.1046/j.0021-8790.2001.00545.x
Aron S, Pasteels JM, Deneubourg JL. Trail-laying behavior during exploratory recruitment in the Argentine ant, Indomymex humilis Mayr. Biol Behav. 1989. 14:207-17.
Buckley R, Gullan P. More aggressive ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) provide better protection for soft scales and mealybugs (Homoptera. Coccidae, Pseudococcidae). Biotropica. 1991. 23:282-6. doi:10.2307/2388205 https://doi.org/doi:10.2307/2388205
Daane KM, Bentley WJ, Walton VM, et al. New controls investigated for the vine, mealybug. Cal Ag. 2006. 60:31-8.
Daane KM, Cooper ML, Nelson EH, et al. Investigation of Argentine ant biology and control methods in California vineyards. 2006. In: American Vineyard Foundation Annual Reports, Crop Year 2005.
Daane KM, Cooper ML, Sime KR, et al. Testing baits to control Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in vineyards. J Econ Entomol. 2008. 101:699-709. doi:10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[699:TBTCAA]2.0.CO;2 https://doi.org/doi:10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[699:TBTCAA]2.0.CO;2 PubMed PMID: 18613568
Daane KM, Sime KR, Fallon J, Cooper ML. Impacts of Argentine ants on mealybugs and their natural enemies in California's coastal vineyards. Ecol Entomol. 2007. 32:583-96. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2007.00910.x https://doi.org/doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.2007.00910.x
Daane KM, Sime KR, Hogg BN, et al. Effects of liquid insecticide baits on Argentine ants in California's coastal vineyards. Crop Prot. 2006. 25:592-603. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2005.08.015 https://doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2005.08.015
Forschler BT, Evans GM. Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) foraging activity response to selected containerized baits. J Entomol Sci. 1994. 29:209-14.
Geiger CA, Daane KM. Seasonal movement and sampling of the grape mealybug, Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) in San Joaquin Valley vineyards. J Econ Entomol. 2001. 94:291-301. PubMed PMID: 11233128
Giraud T, Pederson JS, Keller L. Evolution of supercolonies: The Argentine ants of southern Europe. PNAS. 2002. 99:6075-9. doi:10.1073/pnas.092694199 https://doi.org/doi:10.1073/pnas.092694199 PubMed PMID: 11959924
Godfrey KE, Daane KM, Bentley WJ, et al. Mealybugs in California vineyards. 2002. Oakland, CA.: UC ANR Pub 21612.
Golino DA, Sim S, Rill R, Rowhani A. Four species of California mealybugs can transmit leafroll disease. Am J Enol Viticul. 1999. 50:367-8.
Greenberg L, Klotz JH. Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) trail pheromone enhances consumption of liquid sucrose solution. J Econ Entomol. 2000. 93:119-22. PubMed PMID: 14658521
Greenberg L, Klotz JH, Rust MK. Liquid borate baits for control of Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in organic citrus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Fl Entomol. 2006. 89:469-74. doi:10.1653/0015-4040(2006)89[469:LBBFCO]2.0.CO;2 https://doi.org/doi:10.1653/0015-4040(2006)89[469:LBBFCO]2.0.CO;2
Holway DA, Lach L, Suarez AV, et al. The causes and consequences of ant invasions. Ann Rey Ecol Syst. 2007. 33:181-233. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.33.010802.150444 https://doi.org/doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.33.010802.150444
Holway DA, Suarez AV, Case TJ. Loss of intraspecific aggression the success of a widespread invasive social insect. Science. 1998. 282:949-52. doi:10.1126/science.282.5390.949 https://doi.org/doi:10.1126/science.282.5390.949 PubMed PMID: 9794767
Hooper-Bui LM, Rust MK. Oral toxicity of abamectin, boric acid, fipronil, and hydramethylnon to laboratory colonies of Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Econ Entomol. 2000. 93:858-64. PubMed PMID: 10902342
Horton JR. The Argentine ant in relation to citrus groves. USDA Bull No. 1918. 647:1-73.
Klotz JH, Greenberg L, Amrhein C, Rust MK. Toxicity and repellency of borate-sucrose water baits to Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Econ Entomol. 2000. 93:1256-8. PubMed PMID: 10985039
Klotz JH, Rust MK, Costa HS, et al. Strategies for controlling Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with sprays and baits. J Agric Urban Entomol. 2002. 19:85-94.
Klotz JH, Rust MK, Gonzalez D, et al. Directed sprays and liquid baits to manage ants in vineyards and citrus groves. J Agric Urban Entomol. 2003. 20:31-40.
Klotz JH, Rust MK, Greenberg L, et al. An evaluation of several urban pest management strategies to control Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiol. 2006. 50:1-8.
Markin GP. The seasonal life cycle of the Argentine ant, Iridomyrmex humilis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in southern California. Ann Entomol Soc Am. 1970. 63:1238-42.
Nelson EH, Daane KM. Improving liquid bait programs for Argentine ant control: Bait station density. Environ Entomol. 2007. 36:1475-84. doi:10.1603/0046-225X(2007)36[1475:ILBPFA]2.0.CO;2 https://doi.org/doi:10.1603/0046-225X(2007)36[1475:ILBPFA]2.0.CO;2 PubMed PMID: 18284776
Newell W, Barber TC. The Argentine ant. USDA Bureau of Entomology. 1913. Bull No 122. p 1–98.
Phillips P, Sherk C. To control mealybugs, stop honeydew-seeking ants. Cal Ag. 1991. 45(2):26-8.
Ripa R, Rodrigues F, Rust MK, Larral I. Distribution of liquid food and bait in colonies of Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). 1999. In: Proc 3rd Int Conf Pests in Urban Environments. Prague, Czech Republic. p 225–9.
Rust MK, Haagsma K, Reierson DA. Barrier sprays to control Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Econ Entomol. 1996. 89:134-7.
Rust MK, Reierson DA, Klotz JH. Delayed toxicity as a critical factor in the efficacy of aqueous baits for controlling Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Econ Entomol. 2004. 97:1017-24. doi:10.1603/0022-0493(2004)097[1017:DTAACF]2.0.CO;2 https://doi.org/doi:10.1603/0022-0493(2004)097[1017:DTAACF]2.0.CO;2 PubMed PMID: 15279286
Rust MK, Reierson DA, Paine E, Blum LJ. Seasonal activity and bait preferences of the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Agric Urban Entomol. 2000. 17:201-12.
Silverman J, Roulston TH. Acceptance and intake of gel and liquid sucrose compositions by the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J Econ Entomol. 2001. 94:511-5. PubMed PMID: 11332847
Silverman J, Roulston TH. Retrieval of granular bait by the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Effect of clumped versus scattered dispersion patterns. J Econ Entomol. 2003. 96:871-4. PubMed PMID: 12852629
Taniguchi G, Thompson T, Sipes B. Control of the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (Hymonoptera: Formicidae) in pineapple cultivation using Amdro in bait stations. Sociobiol. 2005. 45:1-7.
Tollerup KE, Rust MK, Dorschner KW, et al. Low-toxicity baits control ants in citrus orchards and grape vineyards. Cal Ag. 2004. 58(4):213-7.
Tsutsui ND, Suarez AV, Holway DA, Case TJ. Reduced genetic variation and the success of an invasive species. PNAS. 2000. 97:5948-53. doi:10.1073/pnas.100110397 https://doi.org/doi:10.1073/pnas.100110397 PubMed PMID: 10811892
Vega SJ, Rust MK. The Argentine ant — a significant invasive species in agricultural, urban, and natural environments. Sociobiol. 2001. 37:3-25.
Vega SJ, Rust MK. Determining the foraging range and origin of resurgence after treatment of Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in urban areas. J Econ Entomol. 2003. 96:844-9. PubMed PMID: 12852625
Also in this issue:
Tip Length Models for Major Commercial California ConifersWine grapes go green: The Sustainable Viticulture Story
Research fuels sustainable viticulture revolution
Nest boxes can attract wildlife to vineyards
Agro-environmental partnerships facilitate sustainable wine-grape production and assessment
Sidebar: Interest in organic winegrowing is increasing
Innovative outreach increases adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices in Lodi region
Decision support tool seeks to aid stream-flow recovery and enhance water security
Sidebar: Collaborative conservation helps achieve regional water-quantity goals
Leafroll disease is spreading rapidly in a Napa Valley vineyard
Botryosphaeria-related dieback and control investigated in noncoastal California grapevines
Sidebar: Vine surgery tested as management strategy for
Vineyard managers and researchers seek sustainable solutions for mealybugs, a changing pest complex
Sidebar: Pomace management reduces spread of vine mealybugs
Sidebar: Studies needed of vectors spreading leafroll disease in California vineyards
Vineyard floor management affects soil, plant nutrition, and grape yield and quality
Self-reseeding annual legumes evaluated as cover crops for untilled vineyards
Soil-landscape model helps predict potassium supply in vineyards
Vineyard nutrient needs vary with rootstocks and soils