l-ascorbic acid provides a highly effective and environmentally sustainable method to control red imported fire ants

Dongdong Ning; Babar Hassan; Lei Nie; Kaige Yang; Yuanqian Pan; Zhiping Pan; Yijuan Xu

doi:10.1007/s10340-020-01203-z

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l-ascorbic acid provides a highly effective and environmentally sustainable method to control red imported fire ants

Journal article

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l-ascorbic acid provides a highly effective and environmentally sustainable method to control red imported fire ants

Dongdong Ning, Babar Hassan, Lei Nie, Kaige Yang, Yuanqian Pan, Zhiping Pan and Yijuan Xu

Journal of Pest Science, Vol.93(2), pp.879-891

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-020-01203-z

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Abstract

Mortality

Solenopsis invicta

vitamin C

behaviour

excretion

hemolymph

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is a serious agricultural and public health pest in its introduced range. Several natural products have been tested to replace synthetic insecticides for the novel, economically feasible and environmentally friendly control of this pest. No information is available on the toxicity of vitamins to red imported fire ants. This study examined the effects of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the survival and behavior of red imported fire ants. In a toxicity assay, L-ascorbic acid (L-AA, vitamin C) appeared to be the most toxic vitamin to S. invicta and caused significantly higher mortality of S. invicta than the control and other tested vitamins. Concentration- and exposure time-dependent mortality of ants was observed after feeding on different concentrations of L-AA. S. invicta equally preferred L-AA and sucrose solution and rapidly transferred L-AA by workers. Significant adverse effects on the necrophoric, recruiting and foraging behavior of this pest insect were observed after feeding on L-AA. The walking speed of L-AA-fed ants was significantly reduced; however, we observed no significant difference in mortality of ants during group aggression assays. When we examined the presence of L-AA in the hemolymph and excretion, unlike in the normal control, more L-AA was observed in the hemolymph of the workers that ingested 0.05/0.1 g/ml of L-AA solution after 48 h. However, there was no significant difference in the concentration of L-AA in the excretion. This study demonstrated that L-AA has negative effects on S. invicta and can be used as baits to provide a highly effective and environmentally sustainable method to control red imported fire ants.

Details

Title: l-ascorbic acid provides a highly effective and environmentally sustainable method to control red imported fire ants
Authors: Dongdong Ning (Author) - South China Agricultural University
Babar Hassan (Author) - South China Agricultural University
Lei Nie (Author) - South China Agricultural University
Kaige Yang (Author) - South China Agricultural University
Yuanqian Pan (Author) - South China Agricultural University
Zhiping Pan (Corresponding Author) - Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources
Yijuan Xu (Corresponding Author) - South China Agricultural University
Publication details: Journal of Pest Science, Vol.93(2), pp.879-891
Publisher: Springer
DOI: 10.1007/s10340-020-01203-z
ISSN: 1612-4766
Organisation Unit: National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99563508502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Entomology

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