Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria
2 University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
3 Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State, Nigeria
Abstract
Harvester ants (Messor galla Forel) defied various control strategies. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of Spent Engine-Oil and other nature-based materials on their emergence in Maiduguri, Borno State of Nigeria. The treatments evaluated are spot application of spent engine-oil and some natural materials in experiment 1 and individual and equal mixture of Pure Neem Seed Kernel oil and Spent Engine-oil in experiment 2. Spot application of permethrin served as control. Experiment 1 results shows no significant difference (p > 0.05) between permethrin and spent engine-oil (which was the most effective treatment). While neem seed oil was significantly (p < 0.01) more effective than the untreated control, the result on the 28th day after application showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the population index of ants that emerged from nests treated with aqueous neem seed extract, salt/potash solution and extract of Eugenia aromatic fruit from those of the control. Experiment 2 result showed no significant difference (p < 0.05) between Permethrin, Spent Engine-oil, Neem Seed Kernel Oil and, equal mixture by volume of Pure Neem Seed Kernel Oil and Spent Engine-Oil in controlling the emergence of the ants. These were however, significantly different (p > 0.05) from the untreated control. While the result shows no significant difference between the treatments, it was observed that equal mixture of Spent Engine-oil and Neem Seed Kernel Oil was most effective, followed by Spent Engine-Oil, Permethrin and Neem Seed Kernel Oil, in that order.
Keywords
Main Subjects
Abdul-Shafy, HI, Mansour, MSM. (2016). A review of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation. Egypt. J. of Petrol., 25(1): 107-123.
Abioye, OP, Agamuthu, P, Abdul Aziz, AR. (2012). Biodegradation of used motor oil in soil using organic waste amendments. Biotech. Res. Intl., Article ID 587041, 8 pages, http://dx.doi.org/10.155/2012/587041
Adenipekun, CO, Oyetungi, OJ, Kassim, LS. (2008). Effects of spent engine oil on the growth parameters and chlorophyll content of Corchorus olitonus. Environmentalist, 28(1):446 - 450.
Briggs, CM, Redak, RA. (2016) Seed Selection by the Harvester Ant Pogonomyrmexrugosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Coastal Sage Scrub: Interactions with Invasive Plant Species. EnvironEntomol., 45(4): 983 - 90.
Chandrasiri, KAS, Fernando, LCP. (2004) Effectiveness of Used Engine Oil in the Management of Coconut Mite, Aceriaguerreronis (Acari: Eriophyidae). Cocos. 16: 43-55.
Degri, MM, Sharah, HA, Maina, YT, Musa, HS. (2013). The effect of harvester ants (Messor spp) nests on farmers’ productivity in semi-arid zone of Maiduguri, Nigeria. J. Environ. Issue. Agric. Develop. Countries, 5(1):34–39.
Heathwole, H. (1996). Ant assemblages at their dry limits, the northern Alacama Deserts, Pere and the Chott EL-Djerid. Tunis. J. Arid. Environ., 33:449-456.
Helmy, EI, Kwaiz, FA, El-Sahn, OMN. (2012). The usage of mineral oils to control insects. Egypt. Acad. J. Biolog. Sci., 5(3):167-174.
Marsh, AC. (1987). The foraging ecology of two Namib desert harvester ant species. South Afric J. of Zool., 22(2): 130-36.
Nicola, JRP, Robert, AJ, Bert, H. (2013). Foraging behavior in the ant genus Messor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Myrmecological News. 18: 33-49.
Tschinkel, WR, Kwapich, CL. (2016). The Florida harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex badius, relies on germination to consume large seeds. PlosOne, 11(11): e0166907. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166907.
)
