Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Pest Manag Sci. 2023 Oct;79(10):4004-4010. doi: 10.1002/ps.7601. Epub 2023 Jun 19.
The Asian needle ant, Brachyponera chinensis, is an invasive ant currently spreading in urban and natural habitats throughout the eastern United States. Recent studies have documented the negative impact of B. chinensis on native ecosystems and human health, yet effective control strategies are lacking. Control difficulties are, in part, due to the unique biology of B. chinensis, which is a predatory ant and a termite specialist. Given that subterranean termites are an important nutritional resource for B. chinensis, the current study evaluated the potential of termite cuticular extract to improve the target-specificity and efficacy of commercial bait used for B. chinensis control.
The efficacy of bait augmented with termite cuticular extracts was evaluated in laboratory and field trials. In laboratory assays, B. chinensis colonies were offered granular bait treated with termite cuticular extract. Results demonstrated that the acceptance of commercial bait is significantly increased by the addition of termite cuticular extract or synthetic (Z)-9-pentacosene, a major component of termite cuticular extract. Foraging activity of Asian needle ants was significantly greater on baits augmented with termite cuticular extract or (Z)-9-pentacosene relative to standard bait. Furthermore, bait augmented with termite cuticular extract worked substantially faster relative to standard bait. To evaluate population effects, field studies were conducted in forested areas invaded by B. chinensis. Bait treated with termite cuticular extract scattered on the forest floor provided rapid control of B. chinensis and ant densities throughout the treated plots declined by 98% within 14 days.
The incorporation of termite cuticular extracts and individual cuticular hydrocarbons such as (Z)-9-pentacosene into traditional baits used for B. chinensis control may offer a novel tool to manage this increasingly problematic invasive ant. © 2023 The Author. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
亚洲针蚁（Brachyponera chinensis）是一种入侵性蚂蚁，目前正在美国东部的城市和自然栖息地中扩散。最近的研究记录了 B. chinensis 对本地生态系统和人类健康的负面影响，但缺乏有效的控制策略。控制困难部分归因于 B. chinensis 的独特生物学特性，它是一种捕食性蚂蚁和白蚁专家。鉴于地下白蚁是 B. chinensis 的重要营养来源，本研究评估了白蚁表皮提取物对提高商业诱饵针对 B. chinensis 控制的靶向性和效果的潜力。
在实验室和野外试验中评估了添加白蚁表皮提取物的诱饵的功效。在实验室测定中，B. chinensis 蚁群被提供了用白蚁表皮提取物处理的颗粒状诱饵。结果表明，商业诱饵的接受度显著增加，添加白蚁表皮提取物或合成（Z）-9-二十五碳烯，这是白蚁表皮提取物的主要成分。亚洲针蚁对添加了白蚁表皮提取物或（Z）-9-二十五碳烯的诱饵的觅食活动明显增加，而标准诱饵则不然。此外，添加了白蚁表皮提取物的诱饵比标准诱饵的效果更快。为了评估种群效应，在被 B. chinensis 入侵的森林地区进行了野外研究。撒在森林地面上的添加了白蚁表皮提取物的诱饵迅速控制了 B. chinensis，处理区域内的蚂蚁密度在 14 天内下降了 98%。
将白蚁表皮提取物和个体表皮碳氢化合物（如（Z）-9-二十五碳烯）纳入用于 B. chinensis 控制的传统诱饵中，可能为管理这种日益严重的入侵性蚂蚁提供一种新工具。
