Role Of Ant Larvae In The Digestion Of Gel And Granular Baits In Management Of Camponotus Modoc And Tapinoma Sessile (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Abstract:
Solid food carried into nests of ants by foraging workers is reported to be fed to larvae for digestion before nutrients are transmitted back to workers. The role of the digestion of solid food by larvae for worker consumption was investigated in the use of gel and granular baits in the management of two species of ants: carpenter ants, Camponotus modoc, and odorous house ants, Tapinoma sessile. Nests were established in feeding trials with granular and gel baits with and without larvae. Ants in nests without larvae had a higher or equilivant mortality compared to ants in nests without larvae indicating that toxicants in baits were ingested without the aid of larval digestion. As only liquid materials can pass the infrabuccal filter in workers, digestion must occur in the infrabuccal pocket of the foraging ants.