Population dynamics of a Solenopsis invicta population and ssociated nontarget arthropod community in a lawn after pesticide application
Author of the article:YU Xin** WANG Lei LIANG Guang-Wen ZENG Ling***
Author's Workplace：Red Imported Fire Ant Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Key Words：Solenopsis invicta, pesticides, biodiversity
Abstract： [Objectives] Chemicals are an efficient method of fire ant control but also have adverse impacts on nontarget arthropods. In this study, we investigated the population dynamics of a Solenopsis invicta population and nontarget arthropod community in a lawn after the application of 0.015% spinosad, 0.045% indoxacarb, 0.096% fipronil and 0.00225% β-cypermethrin. [Methods] Arthropods were collected by sweep sampling and traps. [Results] Shannon-Wiener indices of the arthropod community after spinosad, indoxacarb, fipronil and β-cypermethrin treatments were 2.1, 2.0, 1.8 and 2.1, respectively, significantly higher than in the control which was only 1.5. This indicates that the biodiversity of the arthropod community recovered after pesticide application. [Conclusion] The biodiversity of a lawn arthropod community recovered after pesticide application. Results of principal component analysis showed that the application of 0.096% fipronil and 0.00225% β-cypermethrin adversely affected the arthropod communities’ recovery.