We conducted a bioassay to determine if Argentine ants and red imported fire ants (RIFA) are repelled by surfaces and soil treated with granular bifenthrin and fipronil. We exposed Argentine ants and RIFA to a binary choice test of treated and untreated surfaces leading to a preferred food source. Initially, there was no difference in numbers of individuals crossing onto the bifenthrin treated surfaces for both ants when compared to a contemporaneous untreated control. After 24 hours, Argentine ants learned to avoid bifenthrin treated surfaces while RIFA did not. Avoidance behavior exhibited by Argentine ants may indicate either no reinforcement of foraging trails or perceived mortality risk associated with the treated surface.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Formicidae Linepithema humile (Argentine ant)
Species 2: Hymenoptera Formicidae Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant, fire ants)
Keywords: Bioassay, foraging
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA