The influence of blanket and selective spraying on ant distribution in a west african cocoa farm. In: Theobroma v. 8 p. 87-93, 1978.

Abstract

Observations on the effect of insecticides on the beneficiaI ants, Oecophylla longinoda (F.) and Macromischoides aculeatus (Mayr), and the less desirable Crematogaster spp. are reviewed. A field trial was conducted to investigate the effect of blanket spraying trees with Baygon/Gammalin formulation and of selective spraying of all trees except for those with O. longinoda nests. By upsetting the competitive balance, blanket spraying encourages Crematogaster at the expense of reduced O. longinoda and M. aculeatus distribution and abundance. Selective spraying depresses the O. longinoda population less and leads to localized replacement of Crematogoster by the more beneficiaI anis. Anti-capsid spraying of all trees, apart from those supporting O. longinoda, is suggested as part of an integrated control scheme for cocoa.