Selected Ant Attractive and Chemical Repellent Materials under Climatic Factors affecting the Population Fluctuations of the Common Black Little Ant, Monomorium carbonarium (F. Smith, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Document Type : Original Article

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Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena

Abstract

The current work is to study the effectiveness of attractive and some chemical materials under the impact of ambient physical parameters on the black little, Monomorium carbonarium population fluctuations. New modified pitfall and baits trap used for outdoor and indoor trials, respectively. Ten attractants (sugar, rice, peanuts, kidney beans, dry dates, ajwa, wheat, coconut, currant, and honey) and three repellent materials (Butex, chalk, and vinegar) were used. Furthermore, the greatest number of ants attracted to honey (4057 individuals) representing 19.45 %. However, the lowest numbers were for kidney beans (461 individuals) with 2.21 %. Additionally, the highest number was collected on vinegar (78 individuals), in contrast, the lowest numbers were in chalk (6 individuals). On the other hand, both maximum and minimum temperatures had a substantial positive effect on the abundance of ants on attractants at whole sites except site (E) having a significant negative effect. Furthermore, relative humidity had a significant positive effect at sites (A), (D), and (E), and a negative significant effect on other sites. It was concluded, that M. carbonarium may be attracted to honey and coconut. Moreover, the presence of M. carbonarium was inversely proportional to temperatures and directly to relative humidity to control M. carbonarium used chalk in our habitats. Therefore, it is recommended that studied materials should be stored in arid and closed places. Moreover, chalk as a powder can be used as a repellent material for this species.

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