Objective A novel baiting tube was developed based on the particle-covering behavior of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) and its field application efficacy was evaluated to provide new insights for green and precise management of this invasive species.

Method Laboratory multi-choice experiments tested the effects of four common adhesive materials acrylic, foam, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cotton-paper and a blank control (using plastic-laminated paper as a carrier) on particle-covering and foraging behaviors of S. invicta, recording particle coverage mass and ant foraging numbers at different time points. Field trials were conducted at five sites with relatively high or low S. invicta infestation levels to evaluate the practical efficacy of novel baiting tubes equipped with different adhesive tapes.

Result Laboratory experiments demonstrated that different adhesive materials significantly affected the intensity of particle-covering behavior in S. invicta. The mean particle coverage mass on foam, PET, and cotton-paper adhesives (2.04±0.16 g, 1.53±0.12 g, and 1.91±0.15 g, respectively) was significantly higher than the control (0.55±0.11 g, P < 0.05); acrylic adhesive (1.07±0.11 g) showed no significant difference from the control (P > 0.05). At the early stage of the trial (15 min), the mean number of foraging ants on cotton-paper surfaces (8.7±4.3 individuals) was significantly lower than the control (47.9±5.8 individuals), indicating high passage difficulty before particle coverage; by the late stage (60 min), the foraging ants number on cotton-paper (39.1±4.2 individuals) had recovered to control levels (48.8±2.6 individuals, P > 0.05), indicating normalized passage difficulty after particle coverage. Field trials showed that in roadside and green belt habitats (Site 1), the attraction rate of cotton-paper baiting tubes for S. invicta (54.0%) was significantly lower than the control (92.0%, P < 0.05); whereas in nursery habitats (Sites 2 and 3), the attraction rates of cotton-paper baiting tubes for S. invicta (70.0% and 60.0%) showed no significant difference from controls (80.0% and 40.0%, P > 0.05); in areas with relatively low S. invicta infestation (Sites 4 and 5), the attraction rates of cotton-paper tubes for non-target ants (14.0% and 8.0%) were significantly lower than controls (74.0% and 68.0%, P < 0.05).

Conclusion The novel baiting tubes equipped with cotton-paper adhesive can effectively reduce the entry of non-target ants in most habitats such as nurseries while maintaining attraction efficacy for S. invicta. However, the attraction efficacy for S. invicta may be affected in habitats with limited particle materials.