Red and imported fire ant

Table 1. LC50 values (ppb) of insecticides used for control of red and important fire ants (RIFA)...

Avermectins and Ivermectin. The avermectias are pentacycHc lactones isolated from fermentation products of Streptomjces avermitilis and ivermectin is a semisynthetic chemical, 22,23-dihydroavermectia (46). Ivermectin is effective in very low doses for the control of red spider mites on deciduous fmits, in baits for the control of imported fire ants, and as a parasiticide for Onchocerca volvulus in humans and for catde gmbs. These insecticides appear to function as agonists for the neuroinhibitory transmitter y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (see Antiparasitic agents, avermectins). 

Phillips, S.A., Jr. D.M. Clabom, and O.F. Francke. 1984. Comparison of aerial application and single-mound drenches of fenvalerate against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Texas. Southwestern Entomol. 9 164-168. 

Mirex (dodecachlorooctahydro-l,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta [tv/] pentalene) has been used extensively in pesticidal formulations to control the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), and as a flame retardant in electronic components, plastics, and fabrics. One environmental consequence of mirex was the severe damage recorded to fish and wildlife in nine southeastern states and the Great Lakes, especially Lake Ontario. In 1978, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned all further use of mirex, partly because of the hazards it imposed on nontarget biota. These included ... 

Howard, F.W. and A.D. Oliver. 1978. Arthropod populations in permanent pastures treated and untreated with mirex for red imported fire ant control. Environ. Entomol. 7 901-903. 

Two examples of the remarkable potency of avermectin Bj are its LD9Q of 0.02 to 0.03 ppm against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, when applied to bean plants as a foliar spray and its control of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, when applied as a bait at a level as low as 25 to 50 mg per acre (19). 

The microorganism was classified as a new species of actinomycete. Streptomyces avermitilis. Its anthelmintic activity was shown to reside in 8 closely related macrocyclic lactones, named avermectins, which were also found to possess activity against free-living and parasitic arthropods. One of the natural components, avermectin is now being evaluated as a pesticide for the control of mites of citrus and cotton crops and control of the Red Imported Fire Ant. A chemical derivative, 22,23-dihydroavermectin or ivermectin, has been developed as an antiparasitic agent. It is being marketed for use in cattle, horses and sheep and is expected to become available for swine and dogs. 

Baird D. S. (2001) Semiochemical studies on the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), the tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) and the varroa mite (Varroa destructor). In Chemistry. Simon Fraser University Burnaby. 

Guntur, K.V.R, Velasquez, D., Chadwell, L., Carroll, C Weintraub S Cassill, J.A. and Renthal, R. (2004). Apolipophorin-III-like protein expressed in the antenna of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol., 57, 101-110. 

Vander Meer, R.K., Glancey, B.M. and Lofgren, C.S. (1982). Biochemical changes in the crop, oesophagus and postpharyngeal gland of colony-founding red imported fire ant queens (Solenopsis invicta). Insect Biochem., 12,123-127. 

Leal, W. S. and Ishida, Y. (2008). GP-9s are ubiquitous proteins unlikely involved in olfactory mediation of social organization in the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. PLoS ONE, 3, e3762. 

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is a widely distributed pest in the southern USA. There exists a queen-recognition pheromone of S. invicta, which attracts worker ants, and causes them to bring inanimated objects treated with queen extracts into their nests as if they were real queens. One of the... 

Li S, Jin X, Chen J. Effects of piperidine and piperideine alkaloids from the venom of red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, on Phytium ultimum growth in vitro and the apphcation of piperidine alkaloids to control cucumber damping-off in the greenhouse. Pest Management Science 2012 68 1546-52. 

Vandermeer, R. K., Williams, F. D. and Lofgren, C. S. (1981) Hydrocarbon components of the trail pheromone of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Tetrahedron Letters, 22, 1651-4. 

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