Formicidal Potential of Thymol Derivatives: Adverse Effects on the Survival and Behavior of Acromyrmex balzani

Jaciele O. Dantas, Sócrates C. H. Cavalcanti, Ana Paula A. Araújo, Jefferson E. Silva, Thaysnara B. Brito, Valfran S. Andrade, Heloisa S. S. Pinheiro, Swamy R. S. A. Tavares, Arie F. Blank and Leandro Bacci ()
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Jaciele O. Dantas: Postgraduate Program in Agriculture and Biodiversity, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Sócrates C. H. Cavalcanti: Department of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Ana Paula A. Araújo: Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Jefferson E. Silva: Postgraduate Program in Agriculture and Biodiversity, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Thaysnara B. Brito: Department of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Valfran S. Andrade: Postgraduate Program in Agriculture and Biodiversity, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Heloisa S. S. Pinheiro: Postgraduate Program in Agriculture and Biodiversity, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Swamy R. S. A. Tavares: Postgraduate Program in Agriculture and Biodiversity, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Arie F. Blank: Department of Agronomic Engineering, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
Leandro Bacci: Department of Agronomic Engineering, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-17

Abstract: Leaf-cutting ants are important pests of agricultural and forest crops. Currently, few insecticides are registered for the control of these insects. Natural bioactive molecules can serve as models for the synthesis of new insecticidal compounds. Such ant killer products must be sustainable and efficient, considering not only lethal effects, but also sublethal effects, which can interfere with behavior and communication between colony members. In this study, we analyzed the toxicity of the monoterpene thymol and its derivatives, as well as the sublethal effects of these compounds on the behavior of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex balzani . These effects were compared with the conventional synthetic insecticide deltamethrin. Although deltamethrin showed higher toxicity (LD 50 = 0.87 × 10 −5 µg/mg), all other tested compounds increased ant mortality, with thymyl chloroacetate being the most toxic derivative (LD 50 = 1.41 µg/mg), followed by thymol (LD 50 = 2.23 µg/mg). These three most toxic compounds interfered differentially in the behavior of ants. Thymyl chloroacetate caused increased self-cleaning and reduced allogrooming, which may be related to an attempt to avoid contamination between nestmates. In general, thymol caused greater avoidance among ants, reduced walking speed and caused disorientation in workers. On the other hand, thymyl chloroacetate (LD 30 ) considerably increased the walking speed of the group, without changing the orientation of the individuals. Such changes may interfere with basic activities such as foraging and altering colony cohesion via different mechanisms. Thus, despite the desirable effects of deltamethrin on ant control, this insecticide is highly toxic and should be discontinued soon. Our results show that thymol and its structural modification in thymyl chloroacetate may represent potential ant killers to be used in the management of A. balzani .

Keywords: Attini; Insecta; pest control; ecotoxicology; sublethal effects; foraging; behavior; germplasm; essential oil; insecticide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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