Baiting and Application of Chemicals for Acoushi Ant Control

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INTRODUCTION
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Acoushi drugger or leaf-cutting ants are major pests wherever they occur. They can, therefore, be
considered as general insect pests and are usually rated as the most
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destructive insect in the Americas, the only region where they occur.
They are familiarly known in Guyana as leaf-cutting, fungus-
O growing and mound-building ants. They are highly polyphagous
i.e. destroying most crop species. The plant material that they cut
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is not utilized directly as food, rather, it is used as substrate for a
fungus which the ants cultivate and consume. The fact that the
vegetation is used only as base material (Figure 1) for the insect’s
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only food, the fungus allows them to exploit a wide range of plant
species.
Fig. 1 – Using mandibles
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(mouth cutting parts)
to cut leaves of plant.
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CHARACTERISTICS
The colony of acoushi ants is divided into many groups with each group being responsible for a
specific activity. Some guard and protect the colony whilst others go out and forage for food. The
A most important member of the colony is the Queen (Figure 2.).
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Fig. 2 – Egg laying Queen – largest
member of the nest
She is the only egg-laying member of the colony and is responsible for its continued existence. Only
one Queen is found per nest.
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BAITING FOR ACOUSHI ANT CONTROL
Baiting is the recommended method of control for acoushi ants. It
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exploits the insect’s feeding behavior. Like the vegetation which
is cut and carried back to the nests, bait picked up by the ants is
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taken back to the nest to be used as substrate for the fungus which
is the ants’ only food (Figure 3).
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Bait consists of a toxicant or poison and a carrier which is usually
Fig. 3- Bait being picked
a material that the insects find attractive. The material must be
up by Ants
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attractive (Figure 4) since this determines the degree of acceptance of the bait
by the insects.
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Fig. 4 - Acoushi Ant Bait
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The Acoushi ant bait is recommended to control the pineapple ants. This bait must be crushed in the
bag to break the pellets into smaller pieces. Before the crushed bait is placed in the field, the area
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should be weeded so the nests present are exposed.
During the rainy weather, the bait should be placed in a glass jar or aluminum foil packets to prevent
wetting. Nests which are away from the plant should be disturbed and the bait placed close to, but
not in the nests.
Ant nests which are on the plant should be disturbed to agitate the ants and the crushed bait placed at
the base of the plant. The ants will then take the bait back to their nests where control will occur.
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INSECTICIDAL SOLUTIONS
The nests can also be sprayed with a 0.05% Basudin (Diazinon) solution. To mix this concentration
A add 4 ml (1 softdrink corkful) of Basudin 60 EC to 4.5 litres (I gallon) water. This spray solution can be
applied to the plant where ant shelters are present and also in other parts of the field
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The planting material should be treated with a 0.05% solution of Basudin or Sevin or 0.1% malathion.
O To prepare the 0.05% sevin solution mix 8 g (or about 1/4 ounce) of Sevin 85 WP with 13.5 litres (3
gallons) of water.
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The container used to prepare the above solutions should NEVER be used for any other purpose. It is
S important that the container NEVER store human or animal food, or clothes be washed in it.
H WEAR GLOVES DURING THE ENTIRE OPERATION AND DO NOT USE THE CONTAINER
FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL FOOD STORAGE OR WASHING CLOTHES.
I It is also very important that gloves are used when dipping planting materials such as pineapple slips
in the insecticidal solution. This prevents the chemical from entering the pores of the applicator’s skin
ADVANTAGES OF USING BAIT
A 1. The active ingredient can be spread sparsely in the environment, leaving the pests’ food seeking
behaviour to concentrate the toxicant to lethal doses.
2. Baits require less critical placement than non-persistent insecticides. Nests also do not
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necessarily have to be located, thus, baits are cheaper to use than those methods which rely on
locating the nest.
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BAIT APPLICATION
For most effective results and safety, the following bait application technique is recommended:
a. Scatter bait along the working trail of nests and around
feeding holes (Figure 5.)
a. Do not handle bait with bare hands.
b. Avoid bait becoming wet. Set bait late afternoon when the
ants are most active or use bottles or bamboo troughs to
protect the material.
c. Do not use bait in the vicinity of livestock.
Fig. 5 – Baiting around
feeding holes.
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PRECAUTIONS
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i.
Do not store bait for more than three months after the production date (date is stamped on
packet).
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ii. Use all the bait once the packet has been opened.
iii. Store bait in a cool, dry place.
iv. Store bait out of the reach of children.
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