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Synthetic pheromones as a management technique – dispensers reduce Linepithema humile activity in a commercial vineyard
Author(s) -
Westermann Fabian L,
Bell Vaughn A,
Suckling David M,
Lester Philip J
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4043
Subject(s) - argentine ant , linepithema , honeydew , sex pheromone , pheromone , canopy , biology , vineyard , abundance (ecology) , foraging , ecology , ant , horticulture , botany
BACKGROUND Invasive ants, such as the Argentine ant, have often been reported to facilitate honeydew‐producing hemipteran pests such as mealybugs, which can be vectors of plant pathogens. Synthetic pheromones may offer a target‐specific method to control such ants and consequently lower the abundance of honeydew‐producing pests. Here we report the results of a trial to suppress Argentine ants in grapevines using ant pheromone dispensers. RESULTS Compared with untreated controls, we observed a significant drop in Argentine ant activity on the ground, irrespective of whether pheromone dispensers were placed at ground level, within the canopy or in both locations. Ant counts in the canopy confirmed that Argentine ant abundance was reduced under the influence of the pheromone dispenser placed at ground level compared with untreated controls. However, placing dispensers only in the canopy did not reduce the numbers of ants within the canopy compared with untreated controls. CONCLUSION Our results showed that pheromone dispensers can significantly reduce Argentine ant foraging in grapevines if they are positioned appropriately. This technique could potentially reduce the abundance of associated mealybugs and potentially attendant virus vectoring areawide. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry