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Insects
Special Issues
Biology, Physiological Ecology and Management of Invasive Ants
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Biology, Physiological Ecology and Management of Invasive Ants

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 3130

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hironori Sakamoto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
Interests: Formicidae; fumigation; invasive fire ant

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Invasive alien ants have been known to proliferate extensively in invaded areas, causing severe damage not only to native ecosystems but also to human societies. Recently, the incidence of invasive alien ants migrating into novel areas and/or countries has continued to rise, with the addition of novel species to the list of invasive alien ants. Information regarding the biology of these invasive alien ants, as well as effective early detection and control techniques, has proven invaluable for accurate identification and eradication.

Therefore, we are pleased to announce the publication of a Special Issue on Insects titled "Biology, Physiological Ecology and Management of Invasive Ants". This Special Issue focuses on the biological features of invasive alien ants and technologies for their early detection and control. We welcome contributions related to research on the impacts of invasive alien ants on native ecosystems in invaded areas, studies on novel monitoring and control methods, and assessments of the effects of pesticides on non-target organisms. Also, we also welcome research into the behavior and ecology of invasive alien ants in their native range. Furthermore, research on laboratory-based behavioral observations and the evaluation of pesticide efficacy is highly encouraged. Key research topics include applied entomology, behavioral ecology, and pesticide science, among others.

We welcome submissions of original research papers and reviews for this special issue.

Dr. Hironori Sakamoto
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • eradication
  • insecticide
  • social insect
  • behavior
  • Formicidae

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 3311 KiB  
Article
Impact on Ant Communities by Chemical Pesticides Applied in Controlling the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) in the Field
by Yunbo Song, Meng Chen, Jiarui Wu, Jingxin Hong, Ting Ouyang, Yuling Liang, Mingrong Liang and Yongyue Lu
Insects 2024, 15(11), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15110876 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 581
Abstract
The red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta Buren) represents a significant invasive pest in China, exerting extensive negative impacts on ecosystems. The invasion of RIFA not only poses a severe threat to biodiversity within the environment; inappropriate controlling measures can also adversely [...] Read more.
The red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta Buren) represents a significant invasive pest in China, exerting extensive negative impacts on ecosystems. The invasion of RIFA not only poses a severe threat to biodiversity within the environment; inappropriate controlling measures can also adversely affect community dynamics. Therefore, while implementing effective management strategies to control the proliferation of RIFA populations, it is imperative to evaluate the potential effects of these measures on the structure of local biological communities to safeguard native biodiversity. This study employs a “two-step method” using dust and bait formulations, respectively, to control RIFA while conducting ecological monitoring to further assess the impact of RIFA population decline on ant communities. The results of RIFA management showed that after post-treatment periods of 28 days, 35 days, and 60 days, the worker ant reduction rates for the three insecticides—0.5% beta-cypermethrin dust, 1.0% hydramethylnon bait, and 0.1% indoxacarb bait—reached approximately 72%, with their efficacy ranked as follows: 1.0% hydramethylnon bait > 0.1% indoxacarb bait > 0.5% beta-cypermethrin dust. By the 60th day of the experiment, the ant nest reduction rates reached their highest values—66.84% for 0.5% beta-cypermethrin dust, 77.89% for 1.0% hydramethylnon bait, and 87.52% for 0.1% indoxacarb bait—with the latter performing the best. Meanwhile, the occurrence level of RIFAs in all three pesticide treatment areas decreased from level III to level I 60 days post-treatment. Following the application of these three insecticides, the RIFA population significantly decreased, leading to an increase in species richness within the ant community. The reduction in RIFA numbers had a positive impact on the restoration of ant community diversity, as evidenced by significant improvements in both diversity and evenness indices. Notably, 0.1% indoxacarb bait was particularly effective in enhancing the ant community diversity and species richness, while 1.0% hydramethylnon bait was more effective in improving community evenness. These findings indicate that the controlling strategy used in this study not only effectively manages RIFA populations but also promotes recovery and contributes to the ecological balance of local ant communities, providing an important reference for future biodiversity conservation efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Physiological Ecology and Management of Invasive Ants)
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20 pages, 1160 KiB  
Article
Preference and Toxicity of Sulfoxaflor, Flupyradifurone, and Triflumezopyrim Bait against the Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Their Efficacy under Field Conditions
by Jiefu Deng, Mei Yi, Mingrong Liang, Delong Tan, Weihui Bai, Cai Wang, Guiying Liu, Yijuan Xu, Yixiang Qi, Yongyue Lu and Lei Wang
Insects 2024, 15(10), 813; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100813 - 16 Oct 2024
Viewed by 654
Abstract
The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is native to South America; however, its introduction to other countries has caused serious biodiversity, agricultural, and public health problems. As toxic bait is an effective method to control fire ant populations, the [...] Read more.
The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is native to South America; however, its introduction to other countries has caused serious biodiversity, agricultural, and public health problems. As toxic bait is an effective method to control fire ant populations, the aim of this study was to determine the most effective concentration of sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim as ingredients for baits against S. invicta under laboratory and field conditions. Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim had no effect on the feeding behavior of the fire ants. However, they significantly reduced the climbing, walking, and arrest abilities of the fire ant workers after 10 days of treatment, and insecticides were horizontally transferred from workers to alates or larvae. Specifically, sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim at 0.05% concentration were the most effective in exterminating fire ants. Sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim are nonrepellent and effective insecticides against S. invicta. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Physiological Ecology and Management of Invasive Ants)
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15 pages, 2703 KiB  
Article
Do Dominant Native Ants Outcompete the Invasive Argentine Ant in Mediterranean Citrus Ecosystems? A Laboratory Test
by Vera Zina, Sofia Conde, Manuela Branco and José Carlos Franco
Insects 2024, 15(5), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15050333 - 6 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1384
Abstract
The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) poses a significant threat to ecosystem stability worldwide. In Mediterranean citrus ecosystems, its spread may be limited by interactions with dominant native ant species. We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the competitive dynamics between Argentine [...] Read more.
The invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) poses a significant threat to ecosystem stability worldwide. In Mediterranean citrus ecosystems, its spread may be limited by interactions with dominant native ant species. We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the competitive dynamics between Argentine ants and two major native species, Tapinoma nigerrimum and Lasius grandis. At the individual level, both native species exhibited superior competitive performance, attributed to their larger body sizes and potential differences in chemical defences. At the colony level, T. nigerrimum demonstrated efficiency in interference competition, successfully defending food resources from Argentine ants. However, the Argentine ant exhibited higher recruitment capacity, albeit it was density-dependent. Our findings support the hypothesis that dominant native ants can serve as barriers against Argentine ant invasion in citrus ecosystems, highlighting the importance of interspecific competition in shaping community dynamics and invasive species management. This study underscores the potential role of native ant species in mitigating the impacts of invasive ants on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes, offering valuable insights for invasive species management strategies in Mediterranean citrus ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Physiological Ecology and Management of Invasive Ants)
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