Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ant, shows that in large supercolonies ants
from individual nests feed locally with little
or no exchange of individuals or food
among neighbouring nests (Buczkowski and
Bennett, 2006). As a result, baits are only
distributed to workers in close proximity to
the bait station and numerous bait stations
may be necessary to reach all nests.
The management of polydomous col-
onies is further complicated in colonies that
have subterranean nests, which are not only
diffi cult to locate due to the lack of visible
nest structures such as mounds but are also
diffi cult to treat with liquid spray insecti-
cides due to decreased penetration through
the soil layer.
colony varies, as does their demographic
composition (Hansen and Klotz, 2005;
Buczkowski, 2011). Furthermore, the distri-
bution and location of carpenter ant nests
vary among species and habitat. Thus, the
colonies are initially monogynous and
monodomous but may become polydomous
as the colony grows and the colony's spatial
and nutritional requirements change.
Colonies that are polydomous and poly-
gynous are perhaps the most common
among urban pest ants and include species
such as Argentine ants, odorous house ants,
pharaoh ants, red imported fi re ants, ghost
ants and many others. Such colonies are the
most diffi cult to control because any nests
missed during the initial treatment serve as
sources for future infestations.
Polygyny
Ant IPM
In addition to polydomy (multiple nests),
the majority of urban pest ants are also
highly polygynous (have multiple repro-
ductive females or queens). Between poly-
domy and polygyny, ant colonies fall into
four categories: (i) monodomous and mon-
ogynous; (ii) polydomous and monogynous;
(iii) monodomous and polygynous; and (iv)
polydomous and polygynous. Colonies that
are monodomous and monogynous (single
queen residing in a single nest) are the
easiest to control, especially if the queen is
killed and the colony fails to produce new
reproductives; however, few urban pest ants
have this type of colony social structure.
Colonies that are monogynous but poly-
domous are a lot more common. Such
colonies typically comprise the main nest,
which includes the queen, and one or more
queenless nests. Species such as carpenter
ants, pavement ants and acrobat ants belong
to this category. For example, mature col-
onies of black carpenter ants are partitioned
into parent and satellite nests (Hansen and
Klotz, 2005) that are connected by trails,
which facilitate the exchange of workers,
brood and food and help maintain colony
integrity. The queen, eggs, early-instar
larvae and workers are located in the parent
nest. Workers, mature larvae, pupae and
winged reproductives are found in satellite
nests. The number of satellite nests per
Although a wide range of highly effective
chemical control tools, including baits,
sprays and dusts, is available for immedi-
ately reducing ant numbers, long-term con-
trol almost always requires an IPM
approach. The IPM approach should in-
clude careful initial and follow-up inspec-
tions, record keeping, educating clients,
monitoring, and using cultural, non-
chemical and chemical methods. Educating
clients on ant identifi cation, behaviour and
effective control methods is an important
part of the management programme. An
educated client is more likely to cooperate
with the ant control programme by main-
taining a clean environment, identifying
infestations early and following instructions
from the pest management professional. It is
important to remember that sanitation is
pest control because it reduces or eliminates
harbourage and food for pests. Examples of
sanitation include removing food residues
in or around the structure, trimming vege-
tation away from the building, and removing
fi rewood and refuse piles. In a study by Lee
(2002), the presence of alternative food
sources negatively affected the effectiveness
of chemical ant treatments.
It is also important to remember that
eliminating an ant colony can take weeks,
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