ABSTRACT
Delayed-action toxicants are difficult to obtain because this type of toxicity runs counter to standard synthesis programs that seek chemicals that kill very fast. The first studies with bait toxicants for fire ant control were conducted by Travis against Solenopsisgeminata. Further studies with protoxicants and pendent toxicants seem warranted but the research is expensive and time-consuming. Three new classes of chemicals were discovered that exhibited good delayed toxicity: amidinohydrazones, phenylenediamines, and fluorinated sulfones. Vander Meer et al. suggested four possible controlled release techniques: matrix-bound toxicants, microencapsulation, modification of toxicant structure, and attachment of insecticides to polymers. Any toxic chemicals that produced delayed toxicity over a tenfold dosage range were re-evaluated as baits with queen right colonies. Development of a commercial bait formulation is in progress, and a request for registration from Environmental Protection Agency has been submitted by the developer, Maag Agro-Chemicals, Vero Beach, Florida.
