Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:28:42.845Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Efficacy of fish- and hydramethylnon-based baits for conservation of the African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) during cashew off-seasons in Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2015

Moses I. Olotu ,
Hannalene du Plessis ,
Zuberi S. Seguni ,
Sunday Ekesi  and
Nguya K. Maniania
Moses I. Olotu
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), PO Box 2513, Iringa, Tanzania
Hannalene du Plessis
Affiliation:
North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Zuberi S. Seguni
Affiliation:
Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI), PO Box 6226, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Sunday Ekesi
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Nguya K. Maniania*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The efficacy of fish- and hydramethylnon-based baits for conservation of the African weaver ant (AWA) Oecophylla longinoda Latreille was evaluated at orchards in Bagamoyo and Mkuranga districts, Coast region of Tanzania, during the cashew off-seasons in 2011 and 2012. The baits were applied at monthly intervals; the dynamics of AWA were monitored by counting the number of leaf nests/tree and the colonization trails on main branches. The numbers of leaf nests recorded before baiting ranged between 3.5 and 5.3 and were not significantly different at both sites and in both seasons; after baiting, they ranged between 3.2 and 11.6 at Bagamoyo and between 3.0 and 10.2 at Mkuranga. The colonization of AWA trails recorded before baiting was also not significantly different at both sites and in both seasons and ranged between 37.9 and 50.0%; after baiting, this ranged between 35.9 and 75.1% at Bagamoyo and between 34.6 and 79.2% at Mkuranga. The provision of fish- and hydramethylnon-based baits can effectively contribute to the conservation of AWA during the cashew off-seasons. The fish-based bait is cheaper and more easily affordable by local farmers and can, therefore, be used as an alternative diet for AWA at this time.

Keywords

Oecophylla longinodafood source, Pheidole megacephalainsecticidemanagementabundancecolonization
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 90 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Blüthgen, N. and Fiedler, K. (2004) Preferences for sugars and amino acids and their conditionality in a diverse nectar-feeding ant community. Journal of Animal Ecology 73, 155–166doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2004.00789.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dwomoh, E. A., Afun, J. V. K., Ackonor, J. B. and Agene, V. N. (2009) Investigations on Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as a biocontrol agent in the protection of cashew plantations. Pest Management Science 65, 41–46.Google Scholar
Haack, K. D., Vinson, S. B. and Olson, J. K. (1995) Food distribution and storage in colonies of Monomorium pharaonis (L.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Entomological Science 30, 70–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hölldobler, B. and Wilson, E. O. (1990) The Ants. Springer Verlag, Berlin. 732 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kay, A. (2002) Applying optimal foraging theory to assess nutrient availability ratios for ants. Ecology 83, 1935–1944.Google Scholar
Lim, G. T. (2007) Enhancing the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), for biological control of a shoot borer, Hypsipyla robusta (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Malaysian mahogany plantationsPhD thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Offenberg, J. and Wiwatwitaya, D. (2010) Sustainable weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) farming: harvest yields and effects on worker ant density. Asian Myrmecology 3, 55–62.Google Scholar
Olotu, M. I., du Plessis, H., Seguni, Z. S. and Maniania, N. K. (2012) Efficacy of the African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the control of Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) and Pseudotheraptus wayi (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in cashew crop in Tanzania. Pest Management Science 69, 911–918doi:10.1002/ps.3451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peng, R. K. and Christian, K. (2006) Effective control of Jarvis's fruit fly, Bactrocera jarvisi (Diptera: Tephritidae), by the weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in mango orchards in the Northern Territory of Australia. International Journal of Pest Management 52, 275–282.Google Scholar
Peng, R. K., Christian, K. and Gibb, K. (1997) Distribution of the green ant, Oecophylla smaragdina (F.), (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in relation to native vegetation and the insect pests in cashew plantations in Australia. International Journal of Pest Management 43, 203–211.Google Scholar
Peng, R. K., Christian, K. and Reilly, D. (2009) Green Ants as Biological Control Agents in Agroforestry. RIRDC Publication No. 09/139. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, Australia.Google Scholar
Samways, M. J. (1981) Comparison of ant community structure (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in citrus orchards under chemical and biological control of red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 71, 663–670. doi:10.1017/S0007485300010191.Google Scholar
Seguni, Z. S. K. (1997) Biology and control of Pheidole megacephala (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Myrmicinae) especially in relation to use of Oecophylla longinoda (Formicidae, Formicinae) for biological control of Pseudotheraptus wayi (Heteroptera: Coreidae) in Tanzanian coconut cropping systems. PhD thesis, Imperial College, London, UK.Google Scholar
Seguni, Z. S. K., Way, M. J. and Van Mele, P. (2011) The effect of ground vegetation management on competition between the ants Oecophylla longinoda and Pheidole megacephala and implications for conservation biological control. Crop Protection 30, 713–717.Google Scholar
StatSoft, Inc. (2012) STATISTICA (Data Analysis Software System), Version 11.0. Available atwww.statsoft.com. StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma.Google Scholar
Su, T. H., Beardsley, J. W. and McEwen, F. L. (1980) AC-217,300, a promising new insecticide for use in baits for control of the bigheaded ant in pineapple. Journal of Economic Entomology 73, 755–756.Google Scholar
Van Mele, P. and Cuc, N. T. T. (2007) Ants as Friends: Improving your Tree Crops with Weaver Ants. 2nd edn.Africa Rice Centre (WARDA)/CABI, Cotonou/Egham. 72 pp.Google Scholar
Van Mele, P. and Van Lenteren, J. C. (2002) Survey of current crop management practices in a mixed-ricefield landscape, Mekong Delta, Vietnam – potential of habitat manipulation for improved control of citrus leafminer and citrus red mite. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 88, 35–48.Google Scholar
Van Mele, P., Vayssières, J.-F., Van Tellingen, E. and Vrolijks, J. (2007) Effects of an African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda, in controlling mango fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Bénin. Journal of Economic Entomology 100, 695–701.Google Scholar
Varela, A. M. (1992) Role of Oecophylla longinoda (Formicidae) in control of Pseudotheraptus wayi (Coreidae) on coconut in Tanzania. PhD thesis, Imperial College, London, UK.Google Scholar
Way, M. J. (1953) The relationship between certain ant species with particular reference to biological control of the coreid, Theraptus sp. Bulletin of Entomological Research 44, 669–691.Google Scholar
Way, M. J. and Khoo, K. C. (1991) Colony dispersion and nesting habits of the ants, Dolichoderus thoracicus and Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in relation to their success as biological control agents on cocoa. Bulletin of Entomological Research 81, 341–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Way, M. J. and Khoo, K. C. (1992) Role of ants in pest management. Annual Review of Entomology 37, 479–503. doi:10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.002403.Google Scholar
Williams, D. F., Lofgren, C. S., Banks, W. A., Stringer, C. E. and Plumley, J. K. (1980) Laboratory studies with nine amidinohyrazones, a promising new class of bait toxicants for control of red imported fire ants. Journal of Economic Entomology 73, 798–802. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/73.6.798.Google Scholar
Zerhusen, D. and Rashid, M. (1992) Control of the bigheaded ant Pheidole megacephala Mayr. (Hym., Formicidae) with the fire ant bait ‘AMDRO’ and its secondary effect on the population of the African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda Latreille (Hym., Formicidae). Journal of Applied Entomology 113, 258–262. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0418.1992.tb00663.x.Google Scholar