Evaluating the Repellency of Plant Essential Oils on Ants of the Southeastern U.S.
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Ants are prominent pests to human structures and agriculture. While synthetic pesticides and repeated spraying can be effective at repelling and killing problematic insects, they often harm beneficial insects and run the risk of increasing pesticide resistance with overuse. Many pesticides can also negatively impact the health of humans and wildlife exposed to such chemicals, making the search for alternative insecticidal and repellent supplements paramount. There is a large body of literature regarding the effects of plant essential oils on insect taxa, yet the body of work concerning their effects on ants is less robust. The current study evaluated the repellency of five different plant essential oils against a variety of ants encountered in the field. Oregano (Origanum vulgare), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Bitter Almond (Amygdalus communis), and Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) were the target oils of the procedure. The methodology used sought to survey a wider range of species and their behavior towards the targeted oils than could be easily managed in a laboratory setting. Six locations were tested with two trials per location. For each trial, observations were made in the field every five minutes comparing the number of ant visits to baits with or without essential oils applied during a 30-minute period. Ants were then collected from the field to identify to species. It was found that the oils evaluated had a significant effect at repelling a variety of ant species. The results show promising possibilities for developing sustainable and accessible methods of repelling ants.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Deborah Waller
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Biology | Entomology | Environmental Health | Other Animal Sciences
Session Title
Poster Session
Location
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Start Date
3-30-2024 8:30 AM
End Date
3-30-2024 10:00 AM
Evaluating the Repellency of Plant Essential Oils on Ants of the Southeastern U.S.
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Ants are prominent pests to human structures and agriculture. While synthetic pesticides and repeated spraying can be effective at repelling and killing problematic insects, they often harm beneficial insects and run the risk of increasing pesticide resistance with overuse. Many pesticides can also negatively impact the health of humans and wildlife exposed to such chemicals, making the search for alternative insecticidal and repellent supplements paramount. There is a large body of literature regarding the effects of plant essential oils on insect taxa, yet the body of work concerning their effects on ants is less robust. The current study evaluated the repellency of five different plant essential oils against a variety of ants encountered in the field. Oregano (Origanum vulgare), Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Bitter Almond (Amygdalus communis), and Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) were the target oils of the procedure. The methodology used sought to survey a wider range of species and their behavior towards the targeted oils than could be easily managed in a laboratory setting. Six locations were tested with two trials per location. For each trial, observations were made in the field every five minutes comparing the number of ant visits to baits with or without essential oils applied during a 30-minute period. Ants were then collected from the field to identify to species. It was found that the oils evaluated had a significant effect at repelling a variety of ant species. The results show promising possibilities for developing sustainable and accessible methods of repelling ants.