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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #68786
Title: LABORATORY & FIELD EVALUTION OF A LIQUID BORIC ACID ANT BAIT

Author
item KLOTZ, JOHN - UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA
item Williams, David
item VAIL, KAREN - UNIV. OF TENNESSEE
item OI, DAVID - UNIV. OF AUBURN
item MOSS, JIM

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/28/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: .

Technical Abstract: A boric acid - sucrose water bait was evaluated for efficacy against five species of urban pest ants: Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (Buckley), Solenopsis invicta Buren,Tapinoma melanocephalum (F.), Linepithema humile (Mayr) and Monomorium pharaonis (L.). LC50s for C. Abdominalis floridanus and LC90s for S. invicta showed a delayed toxicity to boric acid over a 10-fold range of concentration. A continuous exposure to 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% boric acid - sucrose water bait was effective in reducing large laboratory colonies (60,000-75,000) of S. Invicta. By the 6th wk there was a 90% reduction in population index at all four concentrations. A faster kill was obtained with smaller laboratory colonies (250-500 workers) of T. melanocephalum, L. humile and M. pharaonis feeding continuously on a 1% boric acid-sucrose water bait. Al1 colonies were completely eliminated by 10 wk. Only partial elimination of colonies was acheived when they were exposed to the boric acid bait for 3 d. A bait application of a 1% boric acid in 10% sucrose water against infestations of M. Pharaonis in an apartment complex acheived control within the 1st wk. In laboratory tests with S. Invicta there was a negative correlation with bait consumption and boric acid concentration; as concentration increased, consumption decreased. Our research results show that low concentrations (<1%) of boric acid are capable of eliminating ant colonies and that at these rates there is reduced repellency.