Repellency and toxicity of mint oil granules to red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

J Econ Entomol. 2004 Apr;97(2):575-80. doi: 10.1603/0022-0493-97.2.575.

Abstract

Repellency and toxicity of 2% mint oil granules were evaluated against worker red imported fire ants. Solenopsis invicta Buren, in a series of laboratory and field experiments. In continuous exposure experiments, LT50 values ranged from 1.2 h with 164.8 mg/cm2 of 2% mint oil granules to 15.3 h with 1.65 mg/cm2 of granules. LT50 values declined exponentially with increasing rate of mint oil granules. Limited exposure to 164.8 mg/cm2 mint oil granules resulted in > 50% knock down (KD) after 30 min; however, there was no KD at 15 min. Twenty-four hour mortality increased linearly with increasing exposure time. Mean repellency of worker red imported fire ants ranged from 49.2 +/- 5.4% for 0 mg/cm2 (untreated control) of mint oil granules at 30 min to 100% for 147.8 mg/cm2 of mint oil granules at 3 h. Repellency increased with increasing milligrams per square centimeter of mint oil granules and exposure time. In field tests, 100% of mounds opened and treated with mint oil granules were abandoned 5 d after treatment and ants had relocated or formed satellite mounds by 2 d after treatment. Unopened mounds treated topically with mint oil granules were not abandoned, but ants formed satellite mounds 2 d after treatment. Mint oil granules could provide another tool for red imported fire ant integrated pest management, particularly in situations in which conventional insecticides would be inappropriate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ants*
  • Insect Repellents / administration & dosage*
  • Insecticides / administration & dosage*
  • Mentha / chemistry*
  • Oils, Volatile / administration & dosage
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Insect Repellents
  • Insecticides
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Oils