Impact of Solenopsis invicta Buren Suppression on Arthropod Ground Predators and Pest Species in Soybean

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Seagraves ◽  
Robert M. McPherson ◽  
John R. Ruberson
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Ground Beetles ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, reportedly contributes to the biological control of key soybean pests. However, S. invicta may negatively affect ground-dwelling natural enemies such as ground beetles and earwigs. Information on the interactions between natural enemies is important for anticipating the success of biological control in agroecosystems with multiple interacting entomophagous species. Ground arthropods were monitored in soybean using pitfall traps in the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons to determine their response to selected fire ant controls. Three treatments were examined: an untreated check, Amdro™ (hydramethylnon) bait (ant-specific), and Lorsban™ (chlorpyriphos) (broad spectrum) plus Amdro. Fire ant captures in pitfall traps were lower in the Amdro and in the Amdro plus Lorsban treatments compared to the untreated control. Reduced fire ant density plus chemical treatment impacted the abundance of certain ground predators. Spiders, primarily Lycosidae, were significantly more abundant in the untreated control plots on some sampling dates; whereas, the earwig Labidura riparia Pallas was more abundant in the Lorsban and Amdro plots, presumably due to the removal of fire ants and other natural enemies. Ground beetles (Carabidae) were not different between treatments on any sampling dates. This study supports the assumption that spiders are compatible with fire ants as natural enemies and that earwigs are not compatible with fire ants. Numbers of lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus Zeller, were not affected by the suppression of fire ant predation or the chemical treatments in 2000, the only year when they were captured. Crickets (Gryllidae), mole crickets (Gryllotalpridae), click beetles (Elateridae), scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), and false darkling beetles (Melandryidae) also were not different between the fire ant suppression treatments.

scholarly journals Naturally Occurring Compounds/Materials as Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Insecticides for Use in Fire Ant Management

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Jian Chen ◽  
David H. Oi
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Natural Toxins ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Made In

The invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (hereafter, fire ants), is a significant threat to public health and a danger to livestock, pets and wildlife due to their venomous stings. The fire ant has invaded many countries and regions and has become a globally significant pest. The current major tool to manage fire ants are synthetic insecticides that are used largely as stomach poisons in bait products or contact insecticides in spray, broadcast, drench, and dust products for area and nest treatments. In addition to these insecticide products, repellants and fumigants can also be useful in some unique scenarios. The ever-increasing public concern about the potential adverse effects of synthetic insecticides on health and the environment has been a driving force for searching for safer alternatives to control fire ants. Tremendous effort has been made in developing biologically-based control for managing fire ants; however, natural products continue to be one of the most attractive sources of safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides. Here, we summarized the synthetic insecticides that are currently used in managing fire ants, available alternative products in the current market, and academic efforts in searching for fire ant natural toxins, repellants and fumigants.

Effects of Repeated Use of Fenoxycarb and Hydramethylnon Baits on Nontarget Ants

1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Zakharov ◽  
L. C. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Repeated Use ◽  
Imported Fire Ants ◽  
Ant Diversity ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

Sites receiving repeated broadcast applications of fenoxycarb and hydramethylnon baits for red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, control were examined for impact of bait treatments on ant diversity in southeastern Arkansas. Ants collected from sugar baits belonged to three subfamilies and 25 species. As compared with checks, native ant species increased on fenoxycarb-treated plots and decreased on hydramethylnon-treated plots. Except for S. invicta, ants within the subfamily Myrmicinae practically disappeared from hydramethylnon-treated plots. Sensitivity of ants in the subfamilies Formicinae and Dolichoderinae to hydramethylnon and fenoxycarb was comparatively low. As a consequence, fenoxycarb shows promise for the integrated management of imported fire ants when broadcast applications are desirable.

Abundance and Seasonal Activity of Arthropod Predators in St. Augustinegrass Lawns in Florida

2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-169
Author(s):  
Ron Cherry
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Arthropod Predators ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Southern Florida ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) lawns in southern Florida were surveyed for arthropod predators. Three sampling methods (vacuum, irritant, visual) were used to obtain a more complete assessment of predators present in the lawns. Seasonal activity of predators also was measured using pitfall traps. Ants were the most abundant predators recovered with 91% of all predators in the survey. The second most abundant group was spiders. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was found more frequently and in greater abundance than any other predator. Predators were active the entire year with total predator catches in traps highest in the summer, intermediate during fall and spring, and lowest in the winter.

scholarly journals Fire Ants (Solenopsisspp.) and Their Natural Enemies in Southern South America

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Briano ◽  
Luis Calcaterra ◽  
Laura Varone
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
South America ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Southern South America ◽  
Field Release

We review the fire ant research conducted by the ARS-South American Biological Control Laboratory (SABCL) since 1987 to find a complex of natural enemies in southern South America and evaluate their specificity and suitability for field release as self-sustaining biological control agents. We also include those studies conducted by the ARS-Center for Medical, Agriculture, and Veterinary Entomology in the United States with the SABCL collaboration. Ecological and biological information is reported on local fire ants and their microsporidia, nematodes, viruses, phorid flies, eucharitid wasps, strepsiptera, and parasitic ants. Their biology, abundance, distribution, detrimental effect, field persistence, specificity, and phenology are discussed. We conclude that the objectives of the ARS program in South America are being achieved and that the pioneering studies have served to encourage further investigations in the United States and other countries and advanced the implementation of biological control programs to decrease imported fire ant densities and damage. Still, several promising organisms should be further investigated for eventual field release in the near future.

DISCOVERY OF HYBRID FIRE ANT POPULATIONS IN GEORGIA AND ALABAMA

1988 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan Diffie ◽  
Robert K. Vander Meer ◽  
Max H. Bass
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Cuticular Hydrocarbon ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Gas Chromatograph ◽  
Recent Movement ◽  
Solenopsis Richteri ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren

The recent movement of fire ants into previously non-infested northwest Georgia counties led to an investigation of their identity. Gas chromatograph traces of the cuticular hydrocarbon patterns of these ants showed them to be hybrids of Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri Forel. This study extends the known range of the hybrid to ten Georgia counties, twenty-one Alabama counties, and five Mississippi counties.

Statewide Survey of Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Populations in Tennessee

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason B. Oliver ◽  
Robert K. Vander Meer ◽  
Samuel A. Ochieng ◽  
Nadeer N. Youssef ◽  
Eva Pantaleoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Cuticular Hydrocarbon ◽  
The State ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Virus Genotype ◽  
Solenopsis Richteri ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Imported Fire Ants ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

Imported fire ants (Solenopsis spp.; Hymenoptera: Formicidae) occupy 54 counties (~5.4 million ha) in Tennessee. To better understand the fire ant species distribution in Tennessee, the state was divided into 16.1 × 16.1 km grids, and a single colony was sampled for cuticular hydrocarbon and venom alkaloid analyses within each grid. A total of 387 samples was processed from which 9 (2.3%), 167 (43.2%), and 211 (54.5%) were identified as red (Solenopsis invicta Buren), black (Solenopsis richteri Forel), or hybrid (S. invicta × S. richteri) imported fire ants, respectively. The S. invicta was only found near metropolitan Nashville in Davidson and Williamson counties and at one site in Decatur Co. All samples east of Franklin Co. were identified as hybrids. Tennessee counties west of Lincoln were predominantly S. richteri (86.5%) as opposed to hybrid (13.0%) and S. invicta (0.5%). The exception was Hardin Co., which was predominantly hybrid. Counties containing both hybrid and S. richteri (all in the middle and western part of the state) included Bedford, Decatur, Franklin, Giles, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Perry, and Wayne. The S. invicta samples collected from one Williamson Co. site were determined to be polygyne and infected with the Solenopsis invicta virus (genotype SINV-1 A). This was the first detection of polygyne imported fire ant in Tennessee. The SINV-1 A virus was also a new find at the time of detection, but has been previously reported. The survey results are being used to direct current and future biological control efforts against imported fire ants in Tennessee.

Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Control in Nursery Pots Treated with Beauveria bassiana and Bifenthrin

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-187
Author(s):  
Mark A. Brinkman ◽  
Wayne A. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Test Period ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Potting Medium ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Better Than

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin GHA strain was tested alone and in combination with different rates of bifenthrin for control of red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in potted nursery medium. The fungus killed fire ant workers in the potting medium, but was not effective at eliminating infestations in all containers. Bifenthrin at a rate of 1.18 kg Talstar™ (nursery granular, 0.2% Al) per m3 soil alone performed better than B. bassiana alone; however, bifenthrin was also inconsistent in eliminating fire ants from all pots over the 4 yrs of the study. When B. bassiana was combined with reduced rates (1/4 and 1/2) of bifenthrin in 2001, infestations were eliminated from treated pots within 96 h each time workers were added to the pots for the 7-wk test period. The number of infested bifenthrin + B. bassiana-treated pots was significantly lower than the number of infested untreated pots on all 19 sampling dates in 2001. Use of bifenthrin + B. bassiana was as effective or more effective than use of bifenthrin alone and could save growers as much as 15 to 40%.

scholarly journals Comparative Immature Morphology of Brazilian Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:Solenopsis)

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson Fox ◽  
Daniel Russ Solis ◽  
Mônica Lanzoni Rossi ◽  
Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie ◽  
Rodrigo Fernando de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Solenopsis Geminata ◽  
Body Dimensions ◽  
Larval Instars ◽  
Genus Level

Although common in Brazil, the biology of the fire antSolenopsis saevissima(Smith) is still poorly studied. Larval descriptions are useful to genus-level ant systematics and sometimes to species-level taxonomy. This study presents a detailed description of juveniles ofS. saevissimafrom Brazil, which were compared with Brazilian specimens ofSolenopsis invictaBuren,Solenopsis geminata(Fabricius), andSolenopsis altipunctataPitts. Different larval instars were separated by diagnostic morphological traits which were confirmed by observing moults. Reproductive larvae could be easily sorted by their distinctive body dimensions and shape. Contrary to previous reports on this species, the larvae ofS. saevissimaproved to be generally identical to those ofS. invicta, while a few specimens resembled those of other close species, such asSolenopsis megergatesTrager. Mature larvae thus presented considerable intraspecific variation in some characters recently proposed to aid fire ant species separation (morphology of head hairs).

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