title: Sublethal Effect of Imidacloprid on Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Feeding, Digging, and Foraging Behavior.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides at sublethal levels impairs colonies of honeybees and other pollinators. Recently, it was found that sublethal contamination with neonicotinoids also affect growth and behavior of ants. In this study, we exposed red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, to sublethal dosages of dietary imidacloprid and investigated its effect on ant feeding, digging, and foraging behavior. S. invicta consumed significantly more sugar water containing 0.01 μg/ml imidacloprid than untreated sugar water. Ants fed with 0.01 μg/ml imidacloprid also showed significantly increased digging activity than ants fed with untreated sugar water. However, imidacloprid at ≥ 0.25 μg/ml significantly suppressed sugar water consumption, digging, and foraging behavior. These results indicate that imidacloprid at sublethal concentrations may have a significant and complicated effect on S. invicta.
authors: College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Rd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, P. R. China. jian.chen@ars.usda.gov.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Rd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, P. R. China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Zeng
authors: National Biological Control Laboratory, Southeast Area, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 59 Lee Rd., Stoneville, MS 38776. jian.chen@ars.usda.gov.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000187:drug effects*; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002241:Carbohydrates; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000633:toxicity*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D007093:Imidazoles; D007306:Insecticides; D000073943:Neonicotinoids; D009574:Nitro Compounds; C082359:imidacloprid
keywords: Solenopsis invicta; feeding; neonicotinoid; recruitment; sublethal concentration