Fundamental research for elucidating the mechanism of extermination of the invasive alien species Argentine ants

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06098
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 39060:Conservation of biological resources-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Sawahata Takuo 近畿大学, 農学部, 准教授 (80709006)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 早坂 大亮 近畿大学, 農学部, 准教授 (20583420)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 侵略的外来生物 / 社会性昆虫 / 薬物に対する感受性 / 餌の獲得能力 / 餌の分配能力

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, the application of chemical baits significantly reduced the population of only Argentine ants, while native ants such as Monomorium chinense and Tetramorium tsushimae were hardly affected, and the scale of the foraging behavior of these three species. In addition, the Argentine ant has higher foraging and distributing abilities than the other two species, and in a shorter time after discovering the food, colony members Field surveys, estimation of dietary niches based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, and laboratory experiments on the collective foraging and distribution ability of ants revealed that almost all of them can acquire food. These findings will lead to the elucidation of the mechanism by which Argentine ants are most affected by chemical baits.

Free Research Field

動物生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた成果は、高度の社会性を確立した昆虫群を薬剤防除の対象とした場合、個々の虫体の薬剤感受性のみならず、社会性の違いに基づいた餌獲得・分配能力の違いによって、集団の薬剤感受性が変わり得ることを証拠立てるものである。そして、今後、ヒアリ等、他の外来アリに対する薬剤防除戦略を策定する際、対象種の社会性に基づいて効果的な方法を選ぶ必要があることを示す、価値ある知見となると期待される。