New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Z00008
Received 9 June 2000; accepted 7 September 2000

Comparison of baits containing fipronil and sulfluramid for the control of Vespula wasps

R. J. HARRIS

Landcare Research
Private Bag 6
Nelson, New Zealand
email: harrisr@landcare.cri.nz

N. D. ETHERIDGE

Department of Conservation
Nelson Lakes National Park
St Arnaud, New Zealand

Abstract  Fipronil is a new insecticide being trialed in baits for control of introduced social wasps (Vespula spp.). The efficacy of fipronil was compared with sulfluramid (Finitronreg. wasp bait). In a laboratory bioassay, fipronil was faster acting and equally as toxic at concentrations over 1000 times lower than sulfluramid. Doses of 0.2 mg of fipronil active (0.2 g of bait when used at 0.1%) were sufficient to reduce colony activity by 90%. Trials in a 300-ha site in beech forest used a single poison operation, without prefeeding, and bait stations in either a 50 x 50 m or 100 x 50 m grid. Use of fipronil reduced colony activity within the treated area by 99.7%, whereas sulfluramid had minimal effect on colony activity. Some foragers reinvaded the treated blocks after treatment with fipronil, but wasp densities remained below estimated ecological damage thresholds for vulnerable invertebrates in this habitat. Baiting in lines resulted in variable control of nearby colonies. Despite the low doses of fipronil needed to kill colonies, low bait attractiveness may limit the success of control operations using fipronil in some situations.

Keywords  Vespula; wasps; fipronil; sulfluramid; baiting

New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2001, Vol. 28: 39-48
0301-4223/00/2801-0039 $7.00/0   (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 2001



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