Bait Attraction of the Introduced Pest Ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Galapagos Islands2

Abstract

In laboratory studies with 14 food substances, peanut butter and honey were the most attractive substances to workers of the ant Wasmannia auropunctata. In tests with 6 oils, soybean oil (once refined) was the most attractive to the workers; however, it was not significantly more attractive than tuna oil and sunflower oil. A comparison of the attractiveness of the commercial fire ant baits Amdro (hydramethylnon) and Logic (fenoxycarb) with a peanut butter standard indicated that Amdro was not significantly different; however, Logic was significantly less attractive. Field bait acceptance studies of W. auropunctata were conducted in the Galapagos Islands with the following: the fire ant baits, Amdro and Logic; the Pharaoh's ant baits, Raid Max Ant Bait (N-ethyl Perfluorooctanesulfonamide) and Maxforce Pharoah Ant Killer (hydramethylnon); and lard, peanut butter, peanut butter oil, honey, and honey:water (1:1). Results indicated that the most attractive substance to workers was Amdro; however, it was not significantly different from peanut butter, lard or Raid Max Ant Bait.