Imported Fire Ant Toxic Bait Studies: Evaluation of Toxicants

Abstract

Test methods were developed by which it is possible to evaluate quickly large numbers of chemicals for their potential as delayed-action ant bait toxicants. From these tests it has been determined that an effective toxicant must exhibit delayed action over a wide dosage range (preferably 100-fold or greater, be readily transferred from one ant to another and not be repellent to the ants when incorporated in a bait. Laboratory and field test data with 4 toxicants are presented. Mirex was the only toxicant which fulfilled these requirements. Kepone® (decachloroctahydro-1,3,4 -metheno-2H -cyclobuta[cd] pentalen -2 -one and HRS-1243 (1, la,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-decachloro-2-(2,3-dehydroxypropoxy) octahydro -1,3,4- metheno-2H-cyclobuta [cd] pentalen-2-ol) were the next most effective toxicants.