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Efficacy of fish- and hydramethylnon-based baits for conservation of the African weaver ant Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) during cashew off-seasons in Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2015

Moses I. Olotu ,
Hannalene du Plessis ,
Zuberi S. Seguni ,
Sunday Ekesi  and
Nguya K. Maniania
Moses I. Olotu
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), PO Box 2513, Iringa, Tanzania
Hannalene du Plessis
Affiliation:
North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Zuberi S. Seguni
Affiliation:
Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI), PO Box 6226, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
Sunday Ekesi
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Nguya K. Maniania*
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), PO Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*E-mail: nmaniania@icipe.org
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Abstract

The efficacy of fish- and hydramethylnon-based baits for conservation of the African weaver ant (AWA) Oecophylla longinoda Latreille was evaluated at orchards in Bagamoyo and Mkuranga districts, Coast region of Tanzania, during the cashew off-seasons in 2011 and 2012. The baits were applied at monthly intervals; the dynamics of AWA were monitored by counting the number of leaf nests/tree and the colonization trails on main branches. The numbers of leaf nests recorded before baiting ranged between 3.5 and 5.3 and were not significantly different at both sites and in both seasons; after baiting, they ranged between 3.2 and 11.6 at Bagamoyo and between 3.0 and 10.2 at Mkuranga. The colonization of AWA trails recorded before baiting was also not significantly different at both sites and in both seasons and ranged between 37.9 and 50.0%; after baiting, this ranged between 35.9 and 75.1% at Bagamoyo and between 34.6 and 79.2% at Mkuranga. The provision of fish- and hydramethylnon-based baits can effectively contribute to the conservation of AWA during the cashew off-seasons. The fish-based bait is cheaper and more easily affordable by local farmers and can, therefore, be used as an alternative diet for AWA at this time.

Keywords

Oecophylla longinodafood source, Pheidole megacephalainsecticidemanagementabundancecolonization
Type
Research Papers
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 90 - 95
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2015 

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