1. Research Priorities for Urban Ants in Hawaii Neil Reimer Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture

2. Hawaii Ant Fauna 54 species All alien species Not all invasive 16 significant pest problems

3. New Ant Species Discovered in Hawaii

4. Pest Ants * Pheidole megacephala * Anoplolepis gracilipes * Ochetellus glaber * Tapinoma melanocephalum * Technomyrmex albipes * Camponotus variegatus * Plagiolepis alluaudi * Monomorium pharaonis

5. Pest Ants (cont) Pseudomyrmex gracilis Paratrechina bourbonica Paratrechina longicornis Monomorium destructor Monomorium floricola Solenopsis geminata Wasmannia auropunctata

6. Pest Ants - occasional Hypoponera opaciceps (alates) Brachymyrmex obscurior (alates) Linepithema humile (not significant)

7. Camponotus variegatus Carpenter ant

8. Anoplolepis gracilipes Long legged ant

9. Ochetellus glaber Glaber ant

10. Plagiolepis alluaudi Small yellow house ant

11. Technomyrmex albipes White footed ant

12. Tapinoma melanocephalum Ghost ant

13. Pseudomyrmex gracilis Mexican ant, long twig ant

14. Wasmannia auropunctata Little fire ant

15. Solenopsis invicta Red imported fire ant

16. Formicides being used (PMP’s) Indoors Gels *Optigard (thiamethoxam) *Advion (indoxacarb) Spray *Phantom (chlorfenapyr) *Termidor (fipronil) bifenthrin cyfluthrin imidichloprid Outdoors *Termidor Talstar granules (bifentrhin) bifenthrin deltamethrin

17. Pro’s and Con’s of Tools Most use backpack sprayer for exterior Con – labor time Pro – direct treatment, less pesticide Termidor – only every 6 mo. Need other tools for Q’ly visits “non-repellants” (Phantom) interior are working and replace baits

18. Research Needs Tools for tropical species Tools for arboreal ants More effective baits, granules, liquids Quick activity If not for “non-repellants” would still be using “trial by error” (i.e., boric acid plus feeding stimulant- mint, guava, strawberry jelly)

19. Pesticide runoff issues? Always big concern Many streams, ponds, ocean, wells Try to avoid truck mounted power sprayers – use backpack sprayer Use granules and baits Educate techs in IPM methods