Management Information
Preventative measures: The Pacific Ant Prevention Programme is a proposal prepared for the Pacific Plant Protection Organisation and Regional Technical Meeting for Plant Protection. This plan aims to prevent the red imported fire ant and other invasive ant species with economic, environmental or social impacts from establishing within or spreading between countries in the Pacific. A detailed pest risk assessment for the eight species ranked as having the highest potential risk to New Zealand (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Lasius neglectus, Monomorium destructor, Paratrechina longicornis, Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis richteri, Tapinoma melanocephalum, Wasmannia auropunctata) was prepared as part of 'The invasive ant risk assessment project', Harris et al. 2005., for Biosecurity New Zealand by Landcare Research. Lasius neglectus scored as a high-risk threat to New Zealand. The Invasive ant risk assessment for Lasius neglectus can be viewed at Lasius neglectus risk assessment. Please see Lasius neglectus information sheet for more information on biology, distribution, pest status and control technologies. Integrated Pest Management: Usual measures against domestic ants are not expected to be effective. The enormous numbers of ants that integrate in the supercolonies are to be controlled by an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy, involving both chemical control on trees and soil, physical management of trees (cutting branches in contact with buildings) and limiting irrigation as much as possible (Rey and Espadaler, 2005). Please follow this link for more detailed information on the management of the Lasius neglectus compiled by the ISSG.
Location Specific Management InformationSeva
A report on field trials held at Seva, Spain: 41.80N,2.26E, against invasive populations of Lasius neglectus can been seen at Control Trials. The treatments involved actions aimed at killing ant food sources, limiting access of ants to food sources, impeding access of ants to the interior of houses and killing ants already present in the houses by baiting with Blattanex® (Foxim 0.08%).
Management Resources/Links
1. Espadaler, X and V. Bernal, 2004. Lasius neglectus
Summary: Summary of known distribution, morphology and main biological characteristics and damages caused by this species.
Available from: http://www.creaf.uab.es/xeg/Lasius/Ingles/index.htm [Accessed 14 February 2005] 2. Harris, R.; Abbott, K.; Barton, K.; Berry, J.; Don, W.; Gunawardana, D.; Lester, P.; Rees, J.; Stanley, M.; Sutherland, A.; Toft, R. 2005: Invasive ant pest risk assessment project for Biosecurity New Zealand. Series of unpublished Landcare Research contract reports to Biosecurity New Zealand. BAH/35/2004-1.
Summary: The invasive ant risk assessment project, prepared for Biosecurity New Zealand by Landcare Research, synthesises information on the ant species that occur in New Zealand (native and introduced species), and on invasive ants that pose a potential threat to New Zealand.
There is a great deal of information in this risk assessment on invasive ant species that is of global interest, including; biology, distribution, pest status, control technologies.
The assessment project has five sections.1) The Ants of New Zealand: information sheets on all native and introduced ants established in New Zealand
2) Preliminary invasive ant risk assessment: risk scorecard to quantify the threat to New Zealand of 75 ant species.
3) Information sheets on invasive ant threats: information sheets on all ant species scored as medium to high risk (n = 39).
4) Pest risk assessment: A detailed pest risk assessment for the eight species ranked as having the highest potential risk to New Zealand (Anoplolepis gracilipes, Lasius neglectus, Monomorium destructor, Paratrechina longicornis, Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis richteri, Tapinoma melanocephalum, Wasmannia auropunctata)
5) Ranking of high risk species: ranking of the eight highest risk ant species in terms of the risks of entry, establishment, spread, and detrimental consequences.
NB. The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is considered to be the worst ant pest in the world. However, Solenopsis invicta was specifically excluded from consideration in this risk assessment as this species has already been subject to detailed consideration by Biosecurity New Zealand
(This invasive ant pest risk assessment was funded by Biosecurity New Zealand and Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. Undertaken by Landcare Research in collaboration with Victoria University of Wellington and Otago Museum)
Available from:
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biocons/invertebrates/Ants/ant_pest_risk.asp [Accessed 20 May 2007] 3. Harris, R.J. & Barker, G. (2007). Relative risk of invasive ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) establishing in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 34: 161-178. 4. McGlynn, T.P. 1999. The Worldwide Transfer of Ants: Geographical Distribution and Ecological Invasions, Journal of Biogeography 26(3): 535-548. 6. Rey, A and X. Espadaler, 2005. Area-wide management of the invasive garden ant Lasius neglectus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in northeast Spain. J.Agric. Urban Entom.
Summary: First intent to limit this pest. In two consecutive years, chemicals were applied on tree trunks and canopies. In addition to soil injections and in-house ant baits, a satisfactory control was reached. Results Page: 1
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