RU2209549C2 - Method for control of garden ants - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture, insecticides. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods for control of garden ants using granulated insecticide preparations based on diazinone. Method involves treatment of ant habitats with preparation comprising diazinone, carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt, kaolin, powdered bone or fish, benzoic acid, cereals bran. Consumption norm of preparation is 0.03-0.36 g/1 m³ as measured for diazinone. Ants die on 1-7 day. Preparation shows effect on ants at population level rather then at level of control of single species. EFFECT: improved control method. 1 tbl, 4 ex

Description

 The invention relates to means for controlling garden ants, as well as to a method for controlling garden ants using granular preparations based on diazinon.

 Recently, there has been a need to suppress the number of ants living in household plots, including on beds, lawns, under trees and shrubs, in greenhouses, in front gardens, on terraces, etc. In addition to the natural inconveniences associated with moving and biting of these insects, ants can harm cultivated plants, fruit and ornamental trees. Some species of ants play a protective role in relation to aphids from predators and thus contribute to the maintenance of large populations of aphids that harm agricultural and ornamental crops. By locating their nests in the walls of buildings, ants contribute to their destruction. Moving on the beds and on the surface of plants, ants can carry fungal and bacterial infections that cause diseases of vegetables and ornamental crops and reduce yield and product quality.

 Fighting ants where it becomes necessary is complicated by the fact that these insects, being social, have a complex spatial and ethological structure of the population and therefore direct suppression of their numbers by contact with insecticidal drugs is difficult. Upon contact with insecticides, only that part of the inhabitants of the colony that underwent this contact dies. Pretty quickly, the population is recovering.

 To combat domestic ants, the method of continuous or selective processing of habitats and movement of insects by contact insecticides is used or poisoned baits are used. When using the continuous treatment method with drugs such as diacap, antican, gett, based on diazinone and chlorpyrifos (RET INFO 4, 12/18/1997), only the part of the colony that was processed or had contact with the drug on the movement paths dies. In domestic ants, an anthill with female producers living in it is located outside the reach of contact insecticides. As a result, the numbers of the latter are rapidly recovering. Therefore, to combat ants, containers with food bait are more often used, which are installed in places of their greatest congestion or intense movement. Working ants take out the poisoned bait from the container and transfer it to the nests. As a result of the exchange of food between ants, females laying eggs die, and after a while the whole family.

 (See Disinfection Case, 1998, 4, pp. 40-42, Proc. Of the 3-th Int. Conf. On urban Pest, Prague, 1999, p.203, p.225-229, p.221, Proc . of the 2-th Int. Conf. on Insect Pest in the Urban Environmental, 1996, Edinburg, p. 267-272).

 The works cited above describe the results of research on ant control (laboratory or model experiments) using baits containing azamethifos, chlorpyrifos, hydromethylnon (Combat), fluoro-octane sulfonamide (Alstar), and fipronil as insecticides. As a food component, sugar, glucose, pictin, other carbohydrates, animal or vegetable proteins and fats, as well as attractants specially selected for various types of ants.

 European patent EP 0084310 describes a bait in which the active ingredient is foxime or chlorfoxime from 0.05 to 2 wt.%, And the food component is a mixture of glycerin, honey and sugar. In a laboratory experiment, from 70 ants, Lasius niger dies from 83 to 100% after 7 days.

 EP 0 254 257 describes a composition for combating domestic red ant (pharaoh) containing one of the following insecticides: bendiocarb, pyrethroids, chlorpyrifos, metoprene, boric acid or borates, as well as aqueous solutions of various carbohydrates as food bait and saccharin as an attractant. After 7-9 days in a laboratory experiment of 10 workers with ants die from 10 to 84%.

 An analysis of the literature data and the practice of using baits shows that with their help it is not always possible to get rid of ants even indoors. The use of contact insecticides, as described above, is ineffective for controlling domestic ants, because all the complexity of the struggle lies in access to the anthill, i.e. to the female manufacturer.

 The design of the garden anthill allows, with the right control strategy and drug selection, to eliminate the entire colony of ants.

 Known insecticidal preparation for combating the common bear, containing diazinon in the amount of 0.5-5% as an active ingredient, a mixture of cereal bran and bone or fish meal with or without vegetable oil as a food component, benzoic is used as a preservative acid 1-3%. The preparation also contains kaolin and 1-3% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. This drug is protected by RF patent 2129367. The name of the drug "Thunder" is registered as a trademark, certificate 177876.

 In the process of using the drug for its intended purpose, it turned out that it can also be successfully used to combat ants living in household plots, both in open nature on vegetable beds, in the soil under plantings of fruit trees and flower crops, and near garden buildings , on porches, under the foundation, formwork of buildings, in greenhouses, greenhouses, under tiled paths in the garden, etc.

 At the same time, positive results were obtained when simplified formulations were used to control garden ants, containing the active substance diazinon and a carrier, which are the products of the grain processing industry (flour, bran, animal feed).

 The insecticidal effect of both Thunder and simplified diazinone-based formulations can be explained as follows. All the proposed formulations and the Thunder preparation have a pronounced hygroscopicity, due to the presence of a hygroscopic carrier - products of the grain processing industry (flour, bran, compound feed).

 It is known that even in the presence of a small amount of water decomposition of diazinone occurs. Moreover, compounds with even higher insecticidal activity are formed: O, O-diethyl-O- (2-isopropyl-4-methyl-hydroxyporimidyl-6) phosphate, tetraethyl pyrophosphate, O, O, O, O-tetraethyl dithion pyrophosphate, O, O, O , O-tetraethylthione pyrophosphate. (Diazinon and intermediates for its preparation, M., NIITEKHIM, 1984, p. 18) A hygroscopic form based on diazinon, placed in the soil under an anthill, is gaining moisture very soon. The diazinon is hydrolyzed into metabolites that are highly toxic to insects, which very quickly eliminate the entire colony.

 To evaluate the effectiveness and develop optimal modes of use, the Thunder preparation (3% granular), as well as a number of simplified formulations containing the active substance, diazinon and a carrier (flour, bran, compound feed) were tested in nature in the Domodedovo, Voskresensky districts and in the village Pervomaisk, Korolev, Moscow Region, in three household plots. According to available observations in these areas, the dominant species is the black garden ant Lasius niger, and ants of the myrmica genus (M. rubra) form small colonies in orchards in the soil under fruit trees (apple trees, pears, cherries, plums). These species of ants served as biological objects for testing.

 As tests have shown, all of these formulations and, in particular, the Thunder preparation have an acute insecticidal effect when they are applied directly to the ant sites (in the ground, including in chambers and galleries with cocoons and larvae), as well as on their ways of movement (tracks , galleries), causing the complete death of the ants in contact with it, for 1-7 days. The activity of the drug persists for at least 1 month, but as observations have shown, ants do not form colonies in the treated areas for 2-3 months.

 The introduction of drugs into the passages and galleries suppresses the number of the ant family, disrupts its usual way of life, making it impossible for foragers to move along the laid paths and thus affects the ants at a population level, and not just at the level of struggle with single insect individuals.

The preparative form (granules) makes the preparations completely ready and convenient for use. If ants are found near garden buildings, on ridges, under fruit trees and shrubs, the drug can be applied directly to the places where insects congregate (including in chambers and galleries with cocoons and larvae), as well as on their ways of movement (paths, galleries). The consumption rate in terms of the active substance diazinon, depending on the number of insects or the size of the anthill, is 0.03-0.36 g per 1 m ² . Typically, ants die or disappear from the anthill in 2-4 days. The residual effect of the drug lasts up to 2-3 months.

 The following are examples illustrating but not limiting the invention.

 Example 1

 The tests were carried out on Lasius niger ants in the village of Konobeevo, Voskresensky district, Moscow region.

 1a. On a bed of 1 × 8 m in size, where cucumbers were sown, when emergence appeared at a depth of 10-15 cm, a colony of black garden ant was found, located in the center of the bed along the entire length. At the beginning of June, the preparation “Thunder” was introduced at 3 points at the rate of 3 g per 1 linear meter. Visual censuses were carried out every week until mid-August. One week later, the death of working individuals began, 14 days after the introduction of the drug, the ants completely disappeared and were not found until the end of the observation period.

 1b. On the beds of cabbage in early June in the center of the anthill placed a plastic container of the Tik-Tak type, containing 3 g of the Thunder preparation and sprinkled with earth. Visual observations were carried out every week until mid-August. After one week, the ants left the anthill and did not appear until the end of the observation period.

 1c. 3 g of the Thunder preparation was introduced into the anthill, which is located at an angle at home. The next day, dead ants were discovered. Live ants did not appear until the end of the observation period.

 Example 2

 In the village of Velyaminovo, Domodedovo District, Moscow Region, the tests of the Thunder preparation were carried out on Lasius nigers colonies located in the soil under concrete slabs (100x30 cm) forming the formwork of the house and plates forming a path in the garden (50x50 cm) and lying on the ground in this way that each plate became the top wall of the anthill. It turned out to be possible, having removed the plate, to look into the underground galleries, passages and chambers built by ants, and thus observe the nest "in section". The preparation was introduced at a rate of 3 g under each plate in a Tik-Tak container and directly into passages and galleries with ants and brood chambers. Observations were carried out from 30.05. until 08.30. weekly on colonies under 19 plates.

 Plate 1. Workers (foragers) and brood (larvae and pupae in cocoons) were found in galleries. The drug was poured directly into galleries and passages. A week later, the ants disappeared. Weekly surveys showed a complete absence of ants.

 Plate 2. The colony was not exposed to the drug, there was a natural development of the ant family, which was limited to the occupied space, because the Thunder preparation did not allow ants to move under plate 1.

 Plate 3. A chamber with very large cocoons and pupae was discovered. A week after the application of the preparation "Thunder", the cocoons were not found (they were carried away by working individuals). There were no living workers either; the dead were outside galleries near the stove. During subsequent censuses until the end of August, ants and their brood were not observed.

 Plate 4. Old passages and galleries with single working individuals were discovered. In 2 weeks after the introduction of the drug, about 100 dead working individuals were found, there were no living ants. Further surveys showed the absence of ants during the entire observation period. On the surface of plates 3 and 4, a large number of dead founding females and winged males were found.

 Plate 5. Before making the preparation, empty cocoons were found under the plate, from which the working individuals were bred, as well as dead working individuals. These are working ants, who moved with cocoons from another anthill, already treated with the Thunder preparation. In August, ants attempted to establish a new settlement was observed. After the introduction of the drug, the ants disappeared and did not appear until the end of the observations.

Plate 6. A large number of working individuals and broods were found - larvae and cocoons with pupae in the chambers. Under the stove was a long gallery (100x cm) with branches, in which a huge number of moving foragers were observed. A week after the introduction of the drug, an account was taken of dead insects. From three different sections (1x1 cm) of the gallery, dead ants were recovered. Calculations showed that for 1 cm ² gallery there are 80 dead foragers, and about 16,000 individuals for the entire registration area. A month later, the appearance of winged females and males and working individuals, trying to pave a new "path". When re-introducing 1.5 g of the drug, the ants did not appear until the end of August.

 Plate 7. Long galleries with an ant settlement are a continuation of the galleries under plate b (working individuals and cocoons). Under the plate, 3 g of the preparation, 1.5 g each, were made in the container and in the passages and chambers. During subsequent surveys in July and August, no ants were found.

 Plate 8. The long gallery is a continuation of the gallery under the plates 6,7,8. Brood was discovered - larvae and small cocoons. The drug (3 g) was introduced into the container and directly into the chamber. A week later, the cocoons and larvae disappeared. After 3 weeks, the ants tried to restore the settlement at this place. One week after the repeated application of the preparation, the ants disappeared and no longer appeared until the end of the observation period.

 Plate 9. Continuation of the gallery with working individuals and a branched brood chamber. After making the preparation (3 g) in the container and directly into the chamber, the ants disappeared before the end of August.

 Plates 10-16. Old galleries discovered. No ants were found, although there was a potential opportunity for continued colonization and growth of the colony.

 Plates 17, 18, 19 50 x 50 cm, path in the garden.

 Under the stove 17 is a highly branched gallery with working individuals and three chambers with small cocoons. A week after the introduction of the drug, a large number of dead working individuals, living ants and brood were not found. Subsequent weekly counts did not show the appearance of ants.

 Under plates 18 and 19, a small number of working individuals were found. 1.5 g of the drug was added under each of the plates. After a week, the ants disappeared, and the settlement did not recover.

 Example 3. In the garden under a young apple tree, observations were made of ants of the myrmica genus (M.rubra), which formed a settlement in the ground at a depth of 10-15 cm. (Chamber with pupae and small larvae and working ants). 3 g of the drug were introduced into the soil to this depth and sprinkled with earth. Ants disappeared after a week and did not appear until the end of August.

 Example 4. In the village of Pervomaisk, Korolev, Moscow Region The effectiveness of simplified granular diazinone formulations on various carriers against garden ants was studied.

 Granular formulations were obtained by extrusion. Flour, bran were mixed with water until a homogeneous mass was obtained, then passed through an extruder, the resulting "cords" were dried and crushed to obtain granules 3-8 cm long, 2-3 mm in diameter. Compound feeds are finished granules. The granules or feed obtained were impregnated with diazinone dissolved in a small amount of ethyl alcohol, which evaporated during subsequent drying of the granules at room temperature.

 Thus, all the formulations shown in the table were prepared.

 Granular formulations were added to anthills located on ridges, under bushes and trees, on uncultivated areas, under the stumps of sawn trees, etc. One anthill was considered as one experiment, regardless of its location. The preparations were introduced in an amount of 2-3 g into the upper part of the anthill to a depth of 2-3 cm. The anthill was closed with a piece of plywood or roofing material. The results of the experiments are summarized in table.

 As a result of the experiments, it was found that formulations with a diazinon content of 2%, 5% and 12% were highly effective against garden ants. Two days after the introduction of the diazinon granules in all variants, the ants disappeared, except for variants where diazinon was used at a concentration of 0.5%. On the seventh day after the use of drugs, ants disappeared from all anthills.

Claims (1)

A method of combating garden ants, which consists in treating their habitats with a preparation containing diazinon, sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, kaolin, bone or fish flour, benzoic acid, bran of grain crops, in the following ratio of components, wt. %:
Diazinon - 0.5-5.0
Sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose - 1.0-3.0
Kaolin - 10-15
Bone or fish meal - 5.0-10.0
Benzoic acid - 1.0-3.0
Cereal bran - Up to 100
at a rate of consumption of the drug in terms of the active substance, diazinon is 0.03-0.36 g per 1 m ² .

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