Particle size and bait preference of Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a choice test of three unique bait matrices

Particle size and bait preference of S. invicta foragers was determined for three different bait matrices: 1) Advance Select Granular Ant Bait (No active ingredient), 2) Advance Carpenter Ant Bait (No active ingredient), and a blank corn-grit bait with no attractant or active ingredient. Eleven laboratory colonies consisting of one functional queen, ~5,000 ants and 150 brood were offered four different particle sizes contained in polystyrene weigh dishes in an adjacent foraging arena to determine particle size preference for the three different baits. The number of ants present in each weigh dish were recorded every 30min. for the first six hrs., and twice daily thereafter. After 13 days, weigh dishes were removed and weighed to determine net weight change. In addition, head capsule width was measured in order to determine if a linear correlation existed between head capsule width and particle size removed, and was repeated for each bait matrix. Finally, 20 particles of each size class were placed in polystyrene weigh dishes and time until complete removal by S. invicta foragers was recorded.