Ethyl Formate-Based Quarantine Treatment for Exotic Ants and Termites in Imported Rubber Plants and Stone Products

Exotic ants and termites, including Solenopsis invicta, are frequent hitchhikers intercepted from miscellaneous nonfood commodities. In particular, S. invicta has been in Korea imported nursery plants, stone, lumber products, which increases the potential for establishment of this destructive invasive pest Korea. study, we conducted commercial-scale fumigation trials to evaluate ethyl formate (EF) as a alternative methyl bromide using two species rubber plants pieces marble representative good workers Reticulitermes speratus an EF-resistant surrogate invicta. An EF treatment at 35 g/m3 4 h >15 °C, dose required LCt99% (lethal concentration × time product 99% mortality R. speratus), resulted complete control tested with (Ficus benghalensis F. retusa) marble, 9% (w/v) 60% (v/v) loading ratios, respectively. did not adversely affect leaf chlorophyll content, color, overall health or visual appearance marble. Our results suggest that is disinfestation hitchhiking termites ants, on stone products.