BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2010 Toxicological and Histopathological Effects of Boric Acid on Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers
Simone Sumida, Elaine C. M. Da Silva-Zacarin, Pâmela Decio, Osmar Malaspina, Fabiana C. Bueno, Odair C. Bueno
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The current study compared the toxicity of different concentrations of boric acid in adult workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with toxicological bioassays, and examining the dose-dependent and time-dependent histopathological changes, of the midgut, Malpighian tubules, and postpharyngeal glands. Our results revealed the importance of conducting toxicological bioassays combined with morphological analyses of the organs of ants chronically exposed to insecticides used in commercial ant baits. In vitro bioassays showed that boric acid significantly decreases the survivorship of workers regardless of concentration, whereas the morphological data suggested progressive dose-dependent and time-dependent changes in the organs examined, which were evident in the midgut. The midgut is the first organ to be affected, followed by the postpharyngeal gland and Malpighian tubules. This sequence is in agreement with the absorption pathway of this chemical compound in the midgut, its transference to the hemolymph, possibly reaching the postpharyngeal glands, and excretion by the Malpighian tubules. These progressive changes might be due to the cumulative and delayed effect of boric acid. Our findings provide important information for the understanding of the action of boric acid in ant baits in direct and indirect target organs.

© 2010 Entomological Society of America
Simone Sumida, Elaine C. M. Da Silva-Zacarin, Pâmela Decio, Osmar Malaspina, Fabiana C. Bueno, and Odair C. Bueno "Toxicological and Histopathological Effects of Boric Acid on Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers," Journal of Economic Entomology 103(3), 676-690, (1 June 2010). https://doi.org/10.1603/EC09159
Received: 14 May 2009; Accepted: 1 March 2010; Published: 1 June 2010
JOURNAL ARTICLE
15 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
ant bait
Malpighian tubules
microscopy
midgut
postpharyngeal gland
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top