Liquids and gels are common delivery forms used in commercial ant baits, but the relative effectiveness of each is unknown. We compared the feeding responses of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), to liquid and gel compositions of sucrose. In choice assays, more workers were counted on gel than liquid; however, substantially more liquid was consumed. Because workers could stand on the...

We aimed to develop alternative fishing gear for catching the common octopus, to decrease the use of bait and operating costs in comparison to commercial net pots. A tubular-type pot was designed, and behavioral responses of the common octopus were experimentally monitored in tank and replicated 10 times to compare fishing performances between 300 experimental and 300 commercial net pots in the...

Liquids and gels are common delivery forms used in commercial ant baits, but the relative effectiveness of each is unknown. We compared the feeding responses of the Argentine ant, Linepithemahumile(Mayr), to liquid andgel compositionsof sucrose. In choice assays,moreworkers were counted on gel than liquid; however, substantiallymore liquidwas consumed. Becauseworkers could stand on the gel, mor...

Percentage non-toxic bait interference is currently used by local authorities to monitor brushtail possum control operations but the validity of the method has not been established. Two models have been proposed to estimate an index of possum density (possums per bait) from a log-transformation of percentage bait interference. In two trials, percentage bait interference and the density index de...

Despite the widespread use of aerial baiting to manage epizootics among free-ranging populations, particularly in rabies management, bait acceptance and seroconversion rates often are lower than required to eliminate spread of disease. Our objectives in this study, therefore, were to evaluate the performance of stratified bait distribution models derived from resource selection functions (RSF) ...

Synthesis and characterization of Cd-TiO2/PEG/FA nanocomposite as a biomaterial is the main aim of this research. Cd-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by solvothermal assisted sol-gel method. Then, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added to the as-synthesized NPs in order to modify their surface and to prevent agglomeration. In the next step, folic acid (FA) was conjugated to Cd-TiO2/...

The poison (Zn3P2) bait mixed with preputial gland and cheek gland extract was highly effective as compared to poison bait mixed without the scent gland extract, in increasing the food consumption and mortality rate in rats. Among these two scent glands, preputial gland extract was more effective than cheek gland extract in increasing the bait acceptance. The scent gland extract mixed with pois...

Bait usage in the KwaZulu-Natal recreational and commercial linefishery was assessed using historic fisher-derived data and current sales records of bait providers. Total bait usage in two of the three linefishery components in KZN was estimated to range from 928 3,400 tonnes per year. A total of 39 different bait types were identified to have been used in the KZN linefishery, and sardines (Sar...