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Some facts about Ants

Conference Paper · September 2014

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 Some facts about Ants
&
their control
….. global severe problem

Presented by
Dr. Sudhakar Kokate
Director PPRC, India
PPRC/INDIA 01
 Ants

• Evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid

cretaceous period between 110 & 130 million
years ago

• Later diversified after the rise of flowering

plants

PPRC/INDIA 02
 Ants

• They are everywhere

• They constitute 25% of the total animal weight

• Total species > 22,000

• Social insects

• Size : 0.75 – 52 mm
PPRC/INDIA 03
 Ants

• Classification: Arthropoda

Insecta

Formicidae

• Word derived from West Germanic “emaitijo”

means the Biter
PPRC/INDIA 04
 Ants

• Vary in colour mostly red / black

• But few species are green

• Active throughout the year

• Ants take nectar especially dandelion flower

• They form colonies

PPRC/INDIA 05
 Ants

• Larger colonies consist of sterile wingless

females, soldiers, workers

• All colonies with fertile, males known as –

drones and fertile females – queens

• Ultraviolet vision – Sir John Lubbock, 1981

PPRC/INDIA 06
 Ants

• Present on every landmass on Earth except

Antarctica

• Six legs, lift 20 times their own body weight

• Major groups of ants – Harvester, Weaver, Leaf

cutter and army
PPRC/INDIA 07
 Ants as food

• Ants and their larvae are eaten in different parts

of the world
• The eggs of ants are used in Mexican
Escamoles USD 40 / pound
• Weaver ant eggs larvae used in Thai salad yam
Khai
PPRC/INDIA 08
 Ants as food

• In India, Burma and Thailand a paste of green

weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina is served as
a condiment with curry

• Ants are ideal model organisms

PPRC/INDIA 09
No. of ant species on the globe
Neotropic 2162
Neoarctic 580
Europe 180
Africa 25000
Asia 2080
Malaysia 275
Australia 985
Polynesia 42
PPRC/INDIA 10
 Benefits of ants

• Major soil turners

• Channelers of energy

• Pollinators

• Scavengers

PPRC/INDIA 11
 Benefits of ants

• Biological control agents

• Important component in food chain

• Indicating cues for deteriorating ecosystems

PPRC/INDIA 12
How to control

…worldwide problem??

PPRC/INDIA 13
 Control of ants

• Pour very hot boiling water repetitively

• Pour hot water + hot pepper tea

• Use boric acid

• Use apple cider vinegar

• Sprinkle cinnamon
PPRC/INDIA 14
 Control of ants

• Use beneficial silica aero gel

• Sugar + baking soda (1:1)

• Use pyrethrum + isopropyl alcohol

• 1 cup sugar + 4 tbsp boric acid + 24 ounces

water in glass
PPRC/INDIA 15
 Control of ants

• Pour / spray kerosene, terpentine

• Spray of pyrethroids, bifenthrin, cypermethrin,

cyhalothrin

• Soapy detergent water

• Plant based oils

PPRC/INDIA 16
 Baits

• Active ingredient

• Avermectin B

• Borate based products

• Fipronil

• Hydramethylnon
PPRC/INDIA 17
Basil plant

PPRC/INDIA 18
Cucumber peels

PPRC/INDIA 19
Cloves

PPRC/INDIA 20
Cinnamon

PPRC/INDIA 21
Chilli powder

PPRC/INDIA 22
Eucalyptus oil

PPRC/INDIA 23
Garlic

PPRC/INDIA 24
Lavender oil

PPRC/INDIA 25
Mint leaves

PPRC/INDIA 26
Rosemary

PPRC/INDIA 27
Thyme

PPRC/INDIA 28
 Thank You!!

“BE WITH US”

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