Control of the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia Auropunctata, on Santa Fe Island in the Galapagos Islands

A study on Santa Fe Island, Galápagos, found that conventional insecticide treatments targeting the little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) were ineffective due to their failure to reach queen ants nestled underground. Despite prior control measures, including residual insecticides like aldrin and DDT, W. auropunctata persisted on tourist trails, raising concerns about potential island-wide spread during the rainy season. The research highlights the limitations of surface-applied insecticides in controlling this invasive species, which poses ecological threats to the fragile Galápagos ecosystem.

Abedrabbo, S. (2021). Control of the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia Auropunctata, on Santa Fe Island in the Galapagos Islands. Exotic Ants, 219–227. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429040795-19