Pest Management Professional, May 2014

dos donts MYRMECOLOGY Dr Stuart Mitchell t Technical Editor Do the applied myrmecology and dont let black carpenter ants Camponotus pennsylvanicus damage structures Eliminate ants through integrated pest management IPM which is environmentally benign Do understand that in temperate regions intrusive worker ants foraging from outdoor formicaries nests begins when soil temperatures are warmer than 50 F Dont ignore seasonal aphid emergence Ant foraging will be centered outdoors Do inspect for structural moisture intrusion points An infrared camera can provide superior diagnostics Dont underestimate the logic that locating structural and exterior formicaries is the most effective method of ant control and elimination Do use a stethoscope for structural formicaries via an audible location of worker ant stridulating and masticating Dont assume the diurnal foraging of worker ants is valid for a formicary location Primary foraging is nocturnal and cryptic 10 percent of a colonies workers are deployed for foraging Do apply the correct formulations bait liquid dust granular etc using labeled treatment techniques Dont initially consider infestation when spring foraging ants are present in kitchens and bathrooms because they might be from outdoor formicaries Locating structural and exterior formicaries is an important part of ant control Do realize the IPM process can be defined as inspection and investigation identification establishing threshold levels implementing two or more control measures cultural physical mechanical and professional product applications and effective evaluation PMP Dr Mitchell D O Ph D M P H B C E a board certified physician and entomologist is principal technical specialist for PestWest Environmental as well as PMPs Technical Editor He can be reached at docmitchell@ northcoastmedia net or 515 333 8923 most wanted MYRMECOLOGY Photo courtesy of and copyrighted by Gene White pmimages@ earthlink net T he broad study of ants is called myrmecology Greek Mýrmēx or ant Pest management professionals PMPs are well educated in applied myrmecologists Ant species are eusocial highly organized living in a complex form of communal organization But PMPs can outcompete ants through integrated pest management IPM Dr Stuart Mitchell t Technical Editor The black carpenter ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus roughly translating to well known evader of Pennsylvania inhabits the decaying anatomy of trees Decaying wooden structural components can be infested Constructing formicariums nests within cellulose environments carpenter ants dont consume wood As omnivores black carpenter ants gain nutrition through animals necro invertebrates and plants extracts and fruits One of the many extraordinary successes of the species is attributable to their mandibles from the Latin mandibulum meaning jaw The most anterior oral appenage of the cephalon or head mandibles are lateral appendages Perfected for processing food theyre one of the most difficult parts of the integument Mohs Scale 30 where talc is 1 and diamond is 10 Theyre used to processing matrices of varying structural complexity Complex plant fibers of varying hardness require mandibles harder than the fibers under process Ant mandibles are dicondylic two points of articulation with the head thus moving transversely They also possess complex surface features outer external margin internal margin basal margin masticatory margin and teeth and denticles small teeth PMP Decaying wooden structures like this can be inhabited by black carpenter ants 36 May 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net