Comparative attractiveness of two pyriproxyfen-based ant baits (Distance® and Distance® plus) to invasive and nuisance ants in Australia.

Nutritional requirements vary between ant species and the composition of ant baits designed to eliminate colonies of invasive and nuisance ant species needs to take this into account. Simple corn and oil-based ant baits have been effective for only a limited range of species. Distance Ant Bait (5 g/kg pyriproxyfen) has been very effective in the Australian eradication program for red imported fire ant ('Solenopsis invicta') but is less attractive to a wide range of other important pest species. Modifications of this standard formulation were tested on many different species and one particular formulation, Distance Plus Ant Bait (also 5 g/kg pyriproxyfen), proved to be attractive to a wide range of species. Data from many choice and no-choice tests directly comparing the two formulations are included here. The incremental advantage in attractiveness of Distance Plus over Distance was evident for many species particularly those species that have a higher preference for carbohydrate and protein than lipids. These included yellow crazy ant ('Anoplolepis gracilipes'), green tree ant ('Oecophylla smaragdina') and pale tyrant ant ('Iridomyrmex pallidus'). There was also a general improvement in bait attractiveness for some other species, including those for which Distance was considered suitable for control.