Utilization and evaluation of an indoxacarb-based granular bait (Advion) developed for the control of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

This research evaluated the new red imported fire ant (RIFA) bait Advion™.\nAdvion™ contains the active ingredient indoxacarb which, following ingestion, must be\nmetabolized into an N-decarbomethoxyllated metabolite known as JT333 in order to\nbecome acutely toxic. Laboratory experimentation was conducted to determine the most\neffective chemical form and concentration of indoxacarb, as well as the most appropriate\ngrit size, for use in Advion™. The results indicated that Advion™ containing indoxacarb\nwas more effective than Advion™ containing JT333, that 0.10%, 0.06%, and 0.045%\nwere the most effective concentrations of indoxacarb, and that standard sized grit (~2\nmm) was more effective than small sized grit (<1 mm).\nField experimentation was conducted to determine the most effective concentration\nand quantity of Advion™, as well as the most effective placement of the bait, for\nobtaining maximum control of RIFA colonies via individual mound treatments. The\nresults indicated that 10 g (2 Tbsp) of 0.045% Advion™ placed around the mound in a\ncircle with a radius of 0.5-3.0 m was the most effective manner in which to treat\nindividual RIFA mounds. Field experimentation was also conducted to compare the\neffectiveness of label-rate broadcast treatment with Advion™ to the effectiveness of both label-rate broadcast treatment with Amdro® and pre-baiting broadcast treatment with\nAdvion™. Both pre-baiting broadcast treatment and label-rate broadcast treatment with\nAdvion™ ultimately resulted in 98-99% RIFA colony mortality, which was significantly\ngreater than the 87% colony mortality resulting from broadcast treatment with Amdro®.\nThe 6.2 d LT90 for label-rate broadcast treatment with Advion™ was nearly one half that\nof the LT90 for pre-baiting broadcast treatment.\nLaboratory experimentation was conducted to determine whether RIFA workers were\ncapable of metabolizing indoxacarb into the toxic metabolite, and the results clearly\nindicated that they were. Finally, field experimentation was conducted to evaluate the\neffectiveness of label-rate broadcast treatment with Advion™ at controlling multiple ant\nspecies. The results indicated that label-rate broadcast treatment with Advion™ resulted\nin control of the RIFA and Pogonomyrmex barbatus for at least 7 wk, and Monomorium\npharaonis and Dorymyrmex pyramicus for some period of time between 3 and 7 wk.