Submitted Successfully!
To reward your contribution, here is a gift for you: A free trial for our video production service.
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 format correct + 1442 word(s) 1442 2020-12-01 09:07:15 |
2 format correct -2 word(s) 1440 2021-02-20 05:28:14 |

Video Upload Options

Do you have a full video?

Confirm

Are you sure to Delete?
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
Chen, J. Fire Ant. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/7339 (accessed on 27 July 2024).
Chen J. Fire Ant. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/7339. Accessed July 27, 2024.
Chen, Jian. "Fire Ant" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/7339 (accessed July 27, 2024).
Chen, J. (2021, February 17). Fire Ant. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/7339
Chen, Jian. "Fire Ant." Encyclopedia. Web. 17 February, 2021.
Fire Ant
Edit

Red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren (hereafter, fire ants), are a significant threat to public health and a danger to livestock, pets and wildlife due to their venomous stings. Fire ants are also a significant agricultural pest because they can damage many crops. As one of the worst invasive species, fire ants, which are originally from South America, have been introduced into many countries and regions and have become an important global pest.

Red imported fire ant active ingredient bait mound treatment repellant fumigant natural products

1. Alternatives to Synthetic Chemical Insecticides for Use in Fire Ant Bait 

1.1. Naturally Occurring Compounds Used in Current Fire Ant Baits

Abamectin and spinosad are the only two bait AIs that are not synthetic insecticides. Abamectin and spinosad are fermentation products of bacteria Streptomyces avermitilis and Saccharopolyspora spinosa respectively [1]. Abamectin is a mixture of avermectins containing primarily avermectin B1a and avermectin B1b and spinosad a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D. Currently there are five commercial fire ant bait products based on these natural compounds (Table 1). Antixx® Fire Ant Bait is the only bait that has been certified for use in organic production by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)(Eugene, OR, USA)[2].

Table 1. Fire ant bait products that use Abamectin or Spinosad as active ingredients.

Product Name

AI and Concentration

Company

Clinch

abamectin (0.011%)

Syngenta Crop Protection. LLC, Greensboro, NC, USA

Ferti-lome Come and Get It Fire Ant Killer

spinosad (0.015%)

Voluntary Purchasing Group, Bonham, TX, USA

Payback Fire Ant Bait

spinosad (0.015%)

Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. (Palmetto, FL; Hendersonville, NC; Boone, NC, USA  

Antixx® Fire Ant Bait

spinosad (0.015%)

W. Neudorff GmbH KG, Emmerthal, Germany

In addition to organic AIs, boron based inorganic compounds have been tested as fire ant bait AIs, particularly borax and boric acid. These two compounds have a long history of use for controlling ants and their toxicity has been investigated in many ant species, such as Florida carpenter ants, Camponotus floridanus (Buckley) [3], Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr) [4][5], Dolichoderus thoracicus (Smith), a widespread ant species in Asia [6], and fire ants [7]. Boron compound-based ant bait products are commercially available for controlling many ant species, particularly indoor pest ants. Although fire ants are generally considered an outdoor pest, they occasionally migrate into homes for shelter and food, to escape outdoor harsh conditions, such as extreme heat, drought, or flooding. The boric acid/sucrose water bait has successfully eliminated large laboratory fire ant colonies [8] and there are numerous recipes of boron compound-based homemade fire ant control products found on the internet. However, sufficient scientific data that support their efficacy for controlling fire ants in the field is lacking.

1.2. Naturally Occurring Compounds that are Recently Evaluated as Potential Fire Ant Bait Active Ingredients

Effort has been made in searching for naturally occurring compounds as fire ant bait AIs. Five compounds isolated from the root powder of Periploca sepium Bunge (Asclepiadaceae), including four pregnane glycosides and one oligasaccharide, possess oral toxicity against fire ants. Among these five compounds, the periplocoside x, a pregnane glycoside, showed the greatest toxicity [9] where it induced a severe, time-dependent cytotoxicity in the midgut epithelial cells of fire ants[10].

Several common natural compounds have been found to be toxic to fire ants by ingestion. It was found that intake of glutamic acid monosodium salt hydrate, glycine, L-alanine, succinic acid, succinic acid disodium, inosinate 5’-monophosphate disodium salt hydrate, or guanosine 5′-monophosphate disodium salt caused mortality of fire ants. Glycine and guanosine 5′-monophosphate disodium salt exhibited the strongest toxicities, causing 100% mortality in workers after 84 h. LC50 values were 0.004 g/mL and 0.02 g/mL for guanosine 5′-monophosphate disodium salt and glycine, respectively [11]. It was found that intake of various sweeteners such as erythritol, aspartame, or saccharin caused significant mortality in fire ants [12]. The mortality of the workers could reach above 80% after 72 h feeding on 0.1 or 0.2 g/mL erythritol. The mortality of males, females, and larvae could reach close to 100% after 9 d feeding at high concentrations. The effect of erythritol was found to be dose-dependent for workers, males, females, and larvae. Transfer of erythritol among the fire ant colonies was also observed. Toxicity of aspartame was not observed on other ants, such as black garden ants, Lasius niger [13], indicating a possible species selectivity of its toxicity toward ants. The toxicity of erythritol was well documented for many other insect species, such as fruit fly [14], termites [15], house fly and stable fly [16][17], pear psylla [18]. mosquitoes [19], and pavement ant, Tetramorium immigrans Santschi [20].

Due to their slow-acting property and low mammalian toxicity, these compounds may be potentially useful as AIs or additives in fire ant baits. However, before these compounds are used in the control of fire ants, it is necessary to have a better understanding on their modes of action. It is also worthy to further conduct structure-activity relationship analyses for these compounds, which may lead to more promising molecules.

2. Fire Ant Repellants

2.1. Naturally Occurring Organic Compounds/Materials that Have Been Evaluated as Fire Ant Repellants

The repellency of many naturally occurring compounds/materials has been tested against fire ants, including defensive compounds from other ants [21][22], plant raw materials [23][24], plant essential oils and their individual components[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

Many plant essential oils exhibit repellency against fire ants, such as ylang ylang oil (Du et al. unpublished data), nootka oil [35], mint oil [26], and essential oils of Salvia sclarea L., Capsicum annuum L., Mentha canadensis L., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G.Don, Pinus spp. [36], Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Artemisia carvifolia Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb [37], Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Pres, and Ilex purpurea Hassk [93]. A Chinese essential oil product also show repellency against fire ants [38][31]. There are about 17,500 higher plant species that produce essential oils [39], but only small fraction of essential oils has been tested on fire ants, indicating that plant essential oils may be a rich source of new fire ant repellants. 

Fire ant repellants are usually compounds with low molecular weight, so they are very volatile. The application of those compounds under field conditions may require improved delivery technologies in order to achieve a sustained efficacy. Recently, nanoparticle encapsulation technique has been used to formulate essential oils for pest insect control [40]. A nanoformulation of essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth for controlling leaf-cutting ants, Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier), Atta sexdens (Linnaeus), Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel has been reported [41]

One noteworthy factor is that some compounds/materials showed opposite biological effects based on concentrations. Ylang ylang oil exhibited repellency against fire ants at high concentrations, but attractancy at low concentration (Du et al. unpublished data). Similar phenomenon was observed for individual compounds, such as eucalyptol [42], prenyl acetate and pentyl acetate (Du et al. unpublished data). In the field, after the concentration of a repellant decreases with time, it may become an attractant, entirely opposite to its intended effect. Such materials and compounds may not be suitable to be used as fire ant repellants. 

2.2. Naturally Occurring Organic Compounds/Materials that Have Been Evaluated as Fire Ant Repellants

Many plant essential oils exhibit repellency against fire ants, such as ylang ylang oil (Du et al. unpublished data), nootka oil [43], mint oil [26], and essential oils of Salvia sclarea L., Capsicum annuum L., Mentha canadensis L., Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds., Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G.Don, Pinus spp. [36], Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Artemisia carvifolia Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb [37], Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle, Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J.Pres, and Ilex purpurea Hassk[44]. A Chinese essential oil product also show repellency against fire ants [38][31]. There are about 17,500 higher plant species that produce essential oils [39], but only small fraction of essential oils has been tested on fire ants, indicating that plant essential oils may be a rich source of new fire ant repellants.

Fire ant repellants are usually compounds with low molecular weight, so they are very volatile. The application of those compounds under field conditions may require improved delivery technologies in order to achieve a sustained efficacy. Recently, nanoparticle encapsulation technique has been used to formulate essential oils for pest insect control [40]. A nanoformulation of essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth for controlling leaf-cutting ants, Atta opaciceps (Borgmeier), Atta sexdens (Linnaeus), Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel has been reported [45].

One noteworthy factor is that some compounds/materials showed opposite biological effects based on concentrations. Ylang ylang oil exhibited repellency against fire ants at high concentrations, but attractancy at low concentration (Du et al. unpublished data). Similar phenomenon was observed for individual compounds, such as eucalyptol [42], prenyl acetate and pentyl acetate (Du et al. unpublished data). In the field, after the concentration of a repellant decreases with time, it may become an attractant, entirely opposite to its intended effect. Such materials and compounds may not be suitable to be used as fire ant repellants.

References

  1. Lumaret, J.P.; Errouissi, F.; Floate, K.D.; Römbke, J.; Wardhaugh, K. A review on the toxicity and non-target effects of macrocyclic lactones in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Curr. Pharm. Biotechnol. 2012, 13, 1004–1060.
  2. OMRI Products List. A Directory of Products for Organic Use 2020; Organic Materials Review Institute: Eugene, OR, USA, 2020.
  3. Klotz, J.H.; Moss, J.I. Oral Toxicity of a boric acid—sucrose water bait to Florida Carpenter Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Entomol. Sci. 1996, 31, 9–12.
  4. Klotz, J.; Greenberg, L.; Venn, E.C. Liquid boric acid bait for control of the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Èntomol. 1998, 91, 910–914, doi:10.1093/jee/91.4.910.
  5. Klotz, J.H.; Greenberg, L.; Amrhein, C.; Rust, M.K. Toxicity and repellency of borate-sucrose water baits to Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Èntomol. 2000, 93, 1256–1258, doi:10.1603/0022-0493-93.4.1256.
  6. Lin, C.-C.; Chang, T.-W.; Chen, H.-W.; Shih, C.-H.; Hsu, P.-C. Development of liquid bait with unique bait station for control of Dolichoderus thoracicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2017, 110, 1685–1692.
  7. Klotz, J.H.; Vail, K.M.; Willams, D.F. Toxicity of a boric acid-sucrose water bait to Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 1997, 90, 488–491.
  8. Klotz, J.H.; Williams, D.F. New approach to boric acid ant baits. IPM Pract. 1996, 18, 1–4.
  9. Li, Y.; Zeng, X.-N.; Wang, W.-Z.; Luo, C.-H.; Yan, Q.; Tian, M. Chemical constituents from the roots of Periploca sepium with insecticidal activity. J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res. 2012, 14, 811–816.
  10. Li, Y.; Zeng, X.-N. Effects of periplocoside X on midgut cells and digestive enzymes activity of the soldiers of red imported fire ant. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 2013, 93, 1–6.
  11. Huang, Y.; Chen, S.; Li, Z.; Wang, L.; Xu, Y. Effects of flavor enhancers on the survival and behavior of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2018, 25, 21879–21886.
  12. Zhang, X.; Chen, S.; Li, Z.; Xu, Y. Effect of sweeteners on the survival of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2017, 110, 593–597.
  13. Sorvari, J.; Haatanen, M.-K. Aspartame-based sweetener as a strong ant poison: Falsifying an urban legend? Sociobiology 2014, 59, 343, doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v59i2.598.
  14. Baudier, K.M.; Kaschock-Marenda, S.D.; Patel, N.; Diangelus, K.L.; O’Donnell, S.; Marenda, D.R. Erythritol, a non-nutritive sugar alcohol sweetener and the main component of Truvia®, is a palatable ingested insecticide. PLoS ONE 2014, 9, 98949, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098949.
  15. Caponera, V.; Barrett, M.; Marenda, D.R.; O’Donnell, S. Erythritol ingestion causes concentration-dependent mortality in eastern subterranean termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae). J. Econ. Èntomol. 2019, 113, 348–352, doi:10.1093/jee/toz260.
  16. Burgess, E.R.; Geden, C.J. Larvicidal potential of the polyol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol in two filth fly species. J. Vector Ecol. 2019, 44, 11–17, doi:10.1111/jvec.12324.
  17. Burgess, E.R.; Johnson, D.M.; Geden, C.J. Mortality of the house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) after exposure to combinations of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) with the polyol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol. J. Med. Èntomol. 2018, 55, 1237–1244.
  18. Wentz, K.; Cooper, W.R.; Horton, D.R.; Kao, R.; Nottingham, L.B. The artificial sweetener, erythritol, has insecticidal properties against pear psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2020, 113, 2293–2299, doi:10.1093/jee/toaa124.
  19. Sharma, A.; Reyes, J.; Borgmeyer, D.; Ayala-Chavez, C.; Snow, K.; Arshad, F.; Nuss, A.; Gulia-Nuss, M. The sugar substitute erythritol shortens the lifespan of Aedes aegypti potentially by N-linked protein glycosylation. Sci. Rep. 2020, 10, 1–10, doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63050-3.
  20. Barrett, M.; Caponera, V.; McNair, C.; O’Donnell, S.; Marenda, D.R. Potential for use of erythritol as a socially transferrable ingested insecticide for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Èntomol. 2020, 113, 1382–1388, doi:10.1093/jee/toaa019.
  21. Wang, L.; Chen, J. Fatty amines from little black ants, Monomorium minimum, and their biological activities against red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta. J. Chem. Ecol. 2015, 41, 708–715.
  22. Wang, C.; Henderson, G. Repellent effect of formic acid against the red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): A field study. J. Econ. Entomol. 2016, 109, 779–784.
  23. Huang, C.L.; Fu, J.T.; Liu, Y.K.; Cheng, D.M.; Zhang, Z.X. The insecticidal and repellent activity of soil containing cinnamon leaf debris against red imported fire ant workers. Sociobiology 2015, 46–51.
  24. Kafle, L.; Shih, C.-J. Insecticidal activities of compounds from sweet flag (Acorus Calamus) against red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 2017, 64, 398–403.
  25. Addesso, K.M.; Oliver, J.B.; O’Neal, P.A.; Youssef, N. Efficacy of nootka oil as a biopesticide for management of imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Èntomol. 2017, 110, 1547–1555, doi:10.1093/jee/tox114.
  26. Appel, A.G.; Gehret, M.J.; Tanley, M.J. Repellency and toxicity of mint oil granules to red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2004, 97, 575–580.
  27. Wheeler, G.S.; Massey, L.M.; Southwell, I.A. Antipredator defense of biological control agent Oxyops vitiosa is mediated by plant volatiles sequestered from the host plant Melaleuca quinquenervia. J. Chem. Ecol. 2002, 28, 297–315, doi:10.1023/a:1017982007812.
  28. Fu, J.T.; Tang, L.; Li, W.S.; Wang, K.; Cheng, D.M.; Zhang, Z. Fumigant toxicity and repellence activity of camphor essential oil from Cinnamonum camphora Siebold Against Solenopsis invicta workers (Hymenoptera:Formicidae). J. Insect Sci. 2015, 15, 129, doi:10.1093/jisesa/iev112.
  29. Chen, J.; Cantrell, C.L.; Duke, S.O.; Allen, M.L. Repellency of callicarpenal and intermedeol against workers of imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2008, 101, 265–271, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/0022-0493(2008)101[265:ROCAIA]2.0.CO;2.
  30. Sakhanokho, H.F.; Sampson, B.J.; Tabanca, N.; Wedge, D.E.; Demirci, B.; Başer, K.H.C.; Bernier, U.R.; Tsikolia, M.; Agramonte, N.M.; Becnel, J.J.; et al. Chemical composition, antifungal and insecticidal activities of Hedychium essential oils. Molecules 2013, 18, 4308–4327, doi:10.3390/molecules18044308.
  31. Wang, J.; Qiu, X.; Zeng, L.; Xu, Y. Interference of plant essential oils on the foraging behavior of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Fla. Entomol. 2014, 97, 454–460, doi:10.1653/024.097.0215.
  32. Wheeler, G.S.; Massey, L.M.; Southwell, I.A. Dietary influences on terpenoids sequestered by the biological control agent Oxyops vitiosa: Effect of plant volatiles from different Melaleuca quinquenervia chemotypes and laboratory host species. J. Chem. Ecol. 2003, 29, 189–208, doi:10.1023/a:1021941000399.
  33. Li, Z.Q.; Zhong, J.H.; Zhang, D.D.; Liu, B.R. Exposure-altered repellency of vetiver oil against red imported fire ant workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 2009, 54, 211–217.
  34. Wang, K.; Tang, L.; Zhang, N.; Zhou, Y.; Li, W.S.; Li, H.; Cheng, D.M.; Zhang, Z.X. Repellent and fumigant activities of Eucalyptus globulus and Artemisia carvifolia essential oils against Solenopsis invicta. Bull. Insectol. 2014, 67, 207–211.
  35. Addesso, K.M.; Oliver, J.B.; O’Neal, P.A.; Youssef, N. Efficacy of nootka oil as a biopesticide for management of imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2017, 110, 1547–1555.
  36. Wang, J.; Qiu, X.; Zeng, L.; Xu, Y. Interference of plant essential oils on the foraging behavior of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Fla. Entomol. 2014, 97, 454–460.
  37. Wang, K.; Tang, L.; Zhang, N.; Zhou, Y.; Li, W.S.; Li, H.; Cheng, D.M.; Zhang, Z.X. Repellent and fumigant activities of Eucalyptus globulus and Artemisia carvifolia essential oils against Solenopsis invicta. Bull. Insectol. 2014, 67, 207–211.
  38. Wen, Y.; Ma, T.; Chen, X.; Liu, Z.; Zhu, C.; Zhang, Y.; Strecker, R.; Henderson, G.; Hooper-Bùi, L.M.; Sun, Z.; et al. Essential balm: A strong repellent against foraging and defending red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Èntomol. 2016, 109, 1827–1833, doi:10.1093/jee/tow130.
  39. Regnault-Roger, C.; Vincent, C.; Arnason, J.T. Essential oils in insect control: Low-risk products in a high-stakes world. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2012, 57, 405–424.
  40. Kah, M.; Hofmann, T. Nanopesticide research: Current trends and future priorities. Environ. Int. 2014, 63, 224–235.
  41. Rocha, A.G.; Oliveira, B.M.S.; Melo, C.R.; Sampaio, T.S.; Blank, A.F.; Lima, A.D.; Nunes, R.S.; Araújo, A.P.A.; Cristaldo, P.F.; Bacci, L. Lethal effect and behavioral responses of leaf-cutting ants to essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (Lamiaceae) and its nanoformulation. Neotropical Entomol. 2018, 47, 769–779.
  42. Chen, J. Repellency of an over-the-counter essential oil product in China against workers of red imported fire ants. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2009, 57, 618–622.
  43. Addesso, K.M.; Oliver, J.B.; O’Neal, P.A.; Youssef, N. Efficacy of nootka oil as a biopesticide for management of imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 2017, 110, 1547–1555.
  44. Wang, J.; Zhang, H.; Zeng, L.; Xu, Y.J. Repellent effects of five plant essential oils on the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Sociobiology 2012, 59, 695–701.
  45. Rocha, A.G.; Oliveira, B.M.S.; Melo, C.R.; Sampaio, T.S.; Blank, A.F.; Lima, A.D.; Nunes, R.S.; Araújo, A.P.A.; Cristaldo, P.F.; Bacci, L. Lethal effect and behavioral responses of leaf-cutting ants to essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (Lamiaceae) and its nanoformulation. Neotropical Entomol. 2018, 47, 769–779.
More
Information
Subjects: Zoology
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
View Times: 633
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 20 Feb 2021
1000/1000
Video Production Service