Pesticides Make Argentine Ants Go Crazy, Sending Them Roaming or Clustering Before Workers Die

California scientists poisoned invasive Argentine ant colonies with two common baits; one sent workers roaming before death, the other made them stop searching for food and cluster near water

The study from the University of California, Riverside, found that two common ant-bait insecticides can cause very different changes in Argentine ant behaviour before the ants die. Thiamethoxam made affected ants unusually active and sent them roaming outside the nest, while boric acid caused ants to stop foraging and gather inside. The findings show that unusual ant activity after treatment does not necessarily mean the pesticide has failed.

Pesticides make Argentine ants go crazy, sending them roaming or clustering before workers die

Don't assume an uptick in ant activity after setting out pesticide traps means the treatment failed. New UC Riverside research shows their behavior changes as chemicals make their way through a colony.

Pesticide exposure disrupts ants’ behavior and navigation

A sudden surge in ant activity after pesticide bait is placed in a home or garden may not mean the treatment has failed. New research from the University of California, Riverside, shows that Argentine ants can undergo striking behavioral changes as insecticides move through their colonies. Some poisoned ants become unusually active and wander far beyond the nest, while others stop foraging and crowd together near water. The findings suggest that…