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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 #72549
Title: CONTROL OF SOLENOPSIS INVICTA (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) WITH TEFLUBENZURON

Author
item Williams, David
item BANKS, WILLIAM - ARS-RETIRED
item LOFGREN, CLIFF - ARS-RETIRED

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, a major pest in the southern U.S., have been subjected to numerous research studies in order to develop effective control programs. This research resulted in the demonstration that teflubenzuron baits were very active against laboratory colonies of the red imported fire ant. Immature stages were not produced soon after treatment and by four weeks, most colonies did not have brood. As is typical with most insect growth regulators, colony mortality was slow and worker ants did not show any direct effects from teflubenzuron. The results of the field tests indicate that teflubenzuron is excellent for controlling fire ant populations. The levels of teflubenzuron tested in field tests were extremely low when compared with levels of commercially available baits. These research results demonstrate the potential of teflubenzuron for use in baits against red imported fire ants.

Technical Abstract: Teflubenzuron baits were active against laboratory colonies of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Worker brood production ceased soon after treatment and by four weeks posttreatment most replicates were devoid of brood. Worker ants did not exhibit any direct effects from treatment with teflubenzuron. As is typical with most insect growth regulators, colony mortality was slow and dependent on old-age attrition of the worker ants. A few (<25) female alates were produced in one of the laboratory tests at 12 weeks posttreatment. The teflubenzuron baits reduced field colonies of S. invicta by 75-79% within six weeks after treatment, 83-86% within 13 weeks, and 77-91% within 17 weeks. At 17 weeks posttreatment, the presence of worker brood in the plots treated with the lower rates, 0.1125% and 0.0225%, gave evidence of recovery of some colonies. However, the results of the field tests indicate that teflubenzuron has excellent potential for control of field populations of S. invicta.