Identification, distribution and control of an invasive pest ant, Paratrechina sp. (Hymenoptera ...

177 Pages·2008·4.02 MB·English

IDENTIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL OF AN INVASIVE
PEST ANT, Paratrechina SP. (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE), IN TEXAS

A Dissertation
by
JASON MICHAEL MEYERS

Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of
Texas A&M University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

August 2008

Major Subject: Entomology
IDENTIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL OF AN INVASIVE
PEST ANT, Paratrechina SP. (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE), IN TEXAS

A Dissertation
by
JASON MICHAEL MEYERS

Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of
Texas A&M University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Approved by:
Committee Chair, Roger Gold
Committee Members, Jerry Cook
Albert Mulenga
Leon Russell Jr.
Jim Woolley
Head of Department, Kevin Heinz

August 2008

Major Subject: Entomology
iii
ABSTRACT

Identification, Distribution and Control of an Invasive Pest Ant,
Paratrechina sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Texas. (August 2008)
Jason Michael Meyers, B.S., Southwest Missouri State University;
M.S., University of Arkansas
Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Roger Gold

Invasive species are capable of causing considerable damage to natural
ecosystems, agricultures and economies throughout the world. These invasive species
must be identified and adequate control measures should be investigated to prevent and
reduce the negative effects associated with exotic species. A recent introduction of an
exotic ant, Paratrechina sp. nr. pubens, has caused tremendous economic and ecological
damage to southern Texas. Morphometric and phylogenetic procedures were used to
identify this pest ant, P. sp. nr. pubens, to Southern Texas. The populations in Texas
were found to be slightly different but not discriminating from P. pubens populations
described in previous literature. Analysis of the distribution and expansion of P. sp. nr.
pubens found numerous geographically discrete populations and moderately expanding
territories. These expansion rates were determined to be ~20 and ~30 m per mo for a
neighborhood and industrial area, respectively.
Several laboratory and field control strategies were implemented for control of
this intensely pestiferous species. Dinotefuran exhibited high laboratory efficacy against
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P. sp. nr. pubens, while treatments using novaluron were inconclusive. The use of
expanded-use Termidor® demonstrated trends in these data that suggest it as the
treatment of choice. Other field treatments, such as Termidor and Top Choice®,
Termidor and Advance Carpenter Ant BaitTM, and Transport® and Talstar® G, did not
attain the success found in the expanded-use Termidor treatment. Most treatments
examined were determined ineffective against high populations of P. sp. nr. pubens.
Additional and more intensive population management regimes should be investigated.
Abating further P. sp. nr. pubens population proliferation to other regions will only be
realized from additional control research supplemented with state and federal
interdiction policies.
v
DEDICATION
I wish to thank my parents, Harlan and Cathy Lupton, for putting up with me and
all the times I needed advice on life. Without them this would have truly not been
possible. Mom, thank you for always being there for me, loving me, and looking out for
me. Dad, thank you for instilling a hard work ethic in me and for always doing what was
right. Kelsi, thank you for reminding me to be young and silly; two things I seem to do
very well.
I dedicate this dissertation to my family, Harlan, Cathy and Kelsi Lupton.

Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, O sluggard;
Observe her ways and be wise,
It has no commander,
No overseer or ruler,
Yet it stores its provisions in summer,
And gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 30: 24-25
Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are not a strong folk,
But they prepare their food in the summer.
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my appreciation to all of the individuals who helped and guided
my study. My thanks and gratitude to my dissertation director, Dr. Roger Gold, for all of
his patience, advice and guidance. I wish to thank my dissertation committee, Drs. Jerry
Cook, Albert Mulenga, Leon Russell, and Jim Woolley for their comments, suggestions
and encouragement.
I thank and acknowledge those who assisted with the data collection and the
many hours of hard and difficult labor. I thank Dr. James Austin for his immense help,
knowledge, and above all else, friendship. I want to also thank him for his thorough and
critical review of this dissertation. I thank Bryan Heintschel when he volunteered to
endure the heat and humidity in La Porte and Deer Park during the dead of summer. I
thank Dr. Harry Howell, may God rest his soul, for helping me set up my first
experiment with this ant. I would like to thank Bill Summerlin who taught me a great
deal about ant identification and for being a good friend. I thank Dr. Grady Glenn for
putting up with all of my pest control questions, advice for my projects, and how to
speak to residents. I also thank the other graduate students in our lab for their advice,
support, experience and friendship, including; Barry Furman, Molly Keck, Chris Keefer,
Aaron Thompson, and Rachel Wynalda. I greatly thank Dr. Jimmy Olson for all of the
great advice and conversations we’ve had over the years; I will be forever in debt.
I would like to thank Tom Rasberry. Tom helped provide invaluable help and
advice during my field research and a friendship that will undoubtedly continue.
vii
I would like to thank those who supplied samples of various ant species
including; Chris Baptista, Preston Brown, John Cammack, Bryan Heintschel, Jeff
Keularts, Joe MacGown, Nevlin Williams, and Lee Womack; Drs. Grady Glenn, Gregg
Henderson, Mike Merchant, Rudy Scheffrahn, James Wetterer, and John Warner.
I wish to thank those who provided the scholarships I received throughout my
time in graduate school. The financial help I was given provided me the opportunity to
focus on my research and class work.
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT........................................................................................................ iii
DEDICATION.................................................................................................... v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................ vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................................................... viii
LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................. xi
LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................. xiii
CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 1
II MORPHOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF Paratrechina SP. NR.
pubens (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) POPULATIONS
IN TEXAS................................................................................... 7

Introduction..................................................................... 7
Materials and methods.................................................... 11
Results ............................................................................. 13
Discussion....................................................................... 22
III MOLECULAR PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF AN INVASIVE
Paratrechina SP. AND OTHER Paratrechina SPP. FROM
VARIOUS COUNTRIES........................................................... 27

Introduction..................................................................... 27
Materials and methods.................................................... 29
Results ............................................................................. 33
Discussion....................................................................... 37
ix
CHAPTER Page
IV DISTRIBUTION AND SPREAD OF AN EXOTIC ANT,
Paratrechina SP. NR. pubens, IN TEXAS................................ 44

Introduction..................................................................... 44
Materials and methods.................................................... 46
Results ............................................................................. 49
Discussion....................................................................... 60
V LABORATORY EVALUATION OF DINOTEFURAN IN
LIQUID ANT BAIT AGAINST Paratrechina SP. NR. pubens 69

Introduction..................................................................... 69
Materials and methods.................................................... 72
Results ............................................................................. 73
Discussion....................................................................... 73
VI LABORATORY EFFICACY OF INSECT GROWTH
REGULATOR, NOVALURON, FOR Paratrechina SP. NR.
pubens CONTROL..................................................................... 78

Introduction..................................................................... 78
Materials and methods.................................................... 79
Results ............................................................................. 82
Discussion....................................................................... 82
VII FIELD EFFICACY OF ADVANCETM CARPENTER ANT
BAIT AMENDED WITH DINOTEFURAN FOR CONTROL
OF Paratrechina SP. NR. pubens.............................................. 90

Introduction..................................................................... 90
Materials and methods.................................................... 93
Results ............................................................................. 96
Discussion....................................................................... 101
x
CHAPTER Page
VIII FIELD EFFICACY OF CURRENT AND EXPANDED
LABEL TREATMENTS AGAINST AN INVASIVE ANT
PEST, Paratrechina SP. NR. pubens (HYMENOPTERA:
FORMICIDAE), OF TEXAS..................................................... 109

Introduction..................................................................... 109
Materials and methods.................................................... 113
Results ............................................................................. 116
Discussion....................................................................... 125
IX EFFICACY OF TRANSPORT 50 WP, TALSTAR G, AND
TOP CHOICE FOR CONTROL OF Paratrechina SP. NR.
pubens (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE)............................ 131

Introduction..................................................................... 131
Materials and methods.................................................... 134
Results ............................................................................. 135
Discussion....................................................................... 137
X CONCLUSIONS........................................................................ 142

REFERENCES CITED....................................................................................... 147
VITA................................................................................................................... 163