Comparison of Baits for Monitoring Foraging Activity of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Among different sugarcane-weed habitats, molasses was 5-fold as attractive to red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, foragers as a bait coat on index cards (7.6 by 12.7 cm) as peanut oil over short exposure periods (30 min). Peanut oil, on the other hand, was 5-fold more attractive than molasses over longer sampling periods (120 min). A differential bait response among habitats was not detected.