Leafcutting ant control with a mirex bait and residues in soil and pastures

Abstract

Ten leafcutting (Atta capiguara Gonçalves 1944) ant colonies were treated with a 0.45% Mirex bait at g/m² dosage. The insecticide efficiency was evaluated and its residues in soil and grass samples were determined by gas chromatography. The evaluations were made six months after bait application. All colonies were exterminated; residues were found in all soil samples, ranging from 0.001 ppm to 0.013 ppm, but they were not detected in grass samples (below 0.005 ppm).