Research Priorities for Urban Ants in Hawaii

Neil ReimerHawaii Dept. of Agriculture

Hawaii Ant Fauna

54 species All alien species Not all invasive 16 significant pest problems

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No. Ants

Cummulative

New Ant Species Discovered in Hawaii

Pest Ants * Pheidole megacephala * Anoplolepis gracilipes * Ochetellus glaber * Tapinoma melanocephalum * Technomyrmex albipes * Camponotus variegatus * Plagiolepis alluaudi * Monomorium pharaonis

Pest Ants (cont)

Pseudomyrmex gracilis Paratrechina bourbonica Paratrechina longicornis Monomorium destructor Monomorium floricola Solenopsis geminata Wasmannia auropunctata

Pest Ants - occasional

Hypoponera opaciceps (alates) Brachymyrmex obscurior (alates)

Linepithema humile (not significant)

Camponotus variegatus Carpenter ant

Anoplolepis gracilipes Long legged ant

Ochetellus glaber Glaber ant

Plagiolepis alluaudi Small yellow house ant

Technomyrmex albipes White footed ant

Tapinoma melanocephalum Ghost ant

Pseudomyrmex gracilis Mexican ant, long twig ant

Wasmannia auropunctata Little fire ant

Solenopsis invicta Red imported fire

ant

Formicides being used (PMP’s)

Indoors Gels

*Optigard (thiamethoxam) *Advion (indoxacarb)

Spray *Phantom (chlorfenapyr) *Termidor (fipronil) bifenthrin cyfluthrin imidichloprid

Outdoors *Termidor Talstar granules

(bifentrhin) bifenthrin deltamethrin

Pro’s and Con’s of Tools

Most use backpack sprayer for exterior Con – labor time Pro – direct treatment, less pesticide

Termidor – only every 6 mo. Need other tools for Q’ly visits

“non-repellants” (Phantom) interior are working and replace baits

Research Needs Tools for tropical species

Tools for arboreal ants

More effective baits, granules, liquids

Quick activity

If not for “non-repellants” would still be using “trial by error” (i.e., boric acid plus feeding stimulant- mint, guava, strawberry jelly)

Pesticide runoff issues?

Always big concern Many streams, ponds, ocean, wells Try to avoid truck mounted power

sprayers – use backpack sprayer Use granules and baits Educate techs in IPM methods