Open AccessSustainable Management of Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich): How Botanical Insecticides and Fungicides Should Promote an Ecofriendly Control Strategy.
Author(s) -
Isabelle Boulogne,
Lucienne Desfontaine,
Harry OzierLafontaine,
Gladys Loranger-Merciris
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
sociobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.378
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 2447-8067
pISSN - 0361-6525
DOI - 10.13102/sociobiology.v65i3.1640
Subject(s) - biology , biopesticide , bioassay , fipronil , toxicology , fungicide , pesticide , positive control , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , agronomy , traditional medicine , ecology , medicine
The leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus (Reich) causes serious damage to crops and protected areas due to its foraging activity. The main method of control of this species consists of the use of synthetic insecticides that can lead to environmental damage and negative side effects on human health. Consequently, alternative strategies, such as biopesticides, are needed. Insecticide evaluation by ingestion assays was performed using A. octospinosus in vitro bioassay and laboratory nests. Chemical analyses were also performed to know the contents of plant extracts. This study showed that Mammea americana L. is the most promising insecticidal plant extract in the control of A. octospinosus. Indeed, the lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC99) an the lethal dose (LD99) of the M. americana extract (51.31 mg.mL-1, 131.92 mg.mL-1, and 17.36 mg/g of ant respectively) were the closest to those of Fipronil, 0.03 g/kg, the commercial insecticide used as positive control.