John H. Klotz

A survey of the urban pest ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of peninsular Florida.

A one year survey was conducted with structural pest control employees of Florida to determine the kinds of ants and types of ant problems confronted in both commercial and household pest control. Eight species of ants were identified as key pests in Florida. Of these, the most common were Solenopsis invicta Buren - 14%, Tapinoma melanocephalum (F.) - 14%, Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) - 14%, Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (Buckley) - 12%, Monomorium pharaonis (L.) - 11%, Camponotus tortuganus Emery - 8%, Pheidole megacephala (F.) - 7% and Paratrechina bourbonica (Forel) - 4%. More than twenty-five other species of ants which were occasional invaders were also collected in the survey. Customer complaints, nest locations, and treatment strategies for pest ants are also described.

Pest Management of Argentine Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Control of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), around structures in urban settings requires an extensive and thorough use of existing registered sprays and baits. Barrier sprays must be thor...

Oral Toxicity of a Boric Acid - Sucrose Water Bait to Florida Carpenter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The oral toxicity of boric acid to the Florida carpenter ant, Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (Buckley), was evaluated in laboratory tests. The ants were provided a sucrose water-based bait containing various concentrations of boric acid. Over the dosage range from 0.02 M (0.13% w/v) to 0.50 M (3.13% w/v) boric acid, median lethal times (LT50s) (95% CL) ranged from 9.7 (8.1–13.3) days to 1.5 (1.2–1.7) days. Over the same dosage range (0.02 M to 0.50 M), LT90s (95% CL) ranged from 27.1 (18.0–59.5) days to 4.2 (3.6–5.1) days. Some of the advantages of using boric acid as a bait toxicant for ants include its delayed activity and its solubility in water.

Evaluation of Control Measures for Black Carpenter Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract Current control methods for the black carpenter ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer), include the use of remedial and preventative residual sprays as well as toxic baits. We evaluated the acceptance of three baits (Maxforce, Niban, and Baygon) to field colonies of the black carpenter ant in the spring and fall. Maxforce bait granules were more readily accepted than either Niban or Baygon bait granules in the spring. A change in food preference from protein to sugar by the black carpenter ant appeared to reduce the number of Maxforce bait granules removed in the fall, resulting in no differences in bait acceptability. The longevity of Dursban 50W and Tempo 20WP were evaluated in the summer and fall on painted wood panels. Panels aged outside for 15 d under prevailing weather conditions exhibited increased LT50 values. For each sampling period, panels aged on the south face (in the sun) exhibited less insecticidal activity (i.e., large LT50 values) than panels on the north face (shaded; small LT50 values). At each sampling period, Tempo 20WP provided smaller LT50 values than Dursban 50W. Because of changing dietary preferences, our data highlight the importance of using various bait types for carpenter ant control. Moreover, the application of residual spays should be made to locations protected from direct sunlight.

Assimilation and Toxicity of Boron in the Argentine Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Assimilation of boron by Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), fed boric acid—sucrose water solutions was affected by the addition of sorbitol. Concentrations of 10 and 20% sorbitol reduced bo...

Formica perpilosa, an Emerging Pest in Vineyards 1

Abstract Formica perpilosa Wheeler is a serious economic ant pest on table grapes grown in the Coachella Valley, California, and Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This ant aggressively tends hemipteran pests, such as the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus Signoret, and disrupts natural control by predators and parasitoids. Efforts are underway to develop control measures against F. perpilosa using granular bait, yet little is known about the colony life cycle or foraging characteristics of this ant. We studied the seasonal activity, mating behavior, and density and spatial characteristics of F. perpilosa nests in vineyards as well as its foraging and recruitment behavior. Nests were active from early February to mid-October. Mating flights occurred in early August and again in the first two weeks of September and new colonies were founded by a single queen. F. perpilosa rapidly colonized a new, non-infested vineyard with ca. 9% of the vines infested after 1.5 y. In September the proportions of infested vines at 5, 20, and 30 y old vineyards were 18.6, 21.8, and 16.2%, respectively. This ant is seasonally polydomous and nest density increased ca. two-fold at the 5 and 20-year old vineyards between February and September. Foraging and recruitment primarily occurred up to 6.39 m from a home nest. The implications of these studies for controlling F. perpilosa using low-toxic bait delivery systems are discussed.