01801nas a2200121   4500008004100000245009900041210006900140260000900209520139000218100001601608700000501624856005001629       2002                        eng d00aTropical Household Ants: Pest Status, Species Diversity, Foraging Behaviour and Bating Studies0 aTropical Household Ants Pest Status Species Diversity Foraging B  c20023 aQuestionnaire-based surveys of homeowners revealed that ants were the most economically important and abundant household pest after mosquitoes and cockroaches in Malaysia. Twenty-five species of ants were found indoors and outside buildings; all species nest outdoors except Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium floricola, Tapinoma melanocephalum , and Solenopsis molesta . Surveys of houses and food stores indicated the most common species were Pheidole sp., T. melanocephalum, Monomorium destructor, and Paratrechina longicornis. A survey of homeowners’ attitudes and knowledge of ants showed that 62% found ants daily in their homes. Most respondents tolerated < 50 ants indoors; 65% used aerosol sprays for control, 6% used ant baits. Homeowners were not aware that ants can mechanically vector pathogenic organisms. Bacteria, fungi, and yeasts were isolated from ants collected from food outlets. Most ant species responded to peanut butter attractant, except P. longicornis and T. melanocephalum, which preferred honey. Attractancy to peanut butter and honey changed in an 18-month study of M. pharaonis. All species, except Pheidole sp. preferred liquid bait. Foraging of P. longicornis, M. pharaonis, and Solenopsis geminata was negatively correlated with temperature; their peak activity was 2-4 hours after sunset. Most baits gave >75% reduction after one week post-treatment.1 aLee, C., W.1 a  uhttps://singaporeants.myspecies.info/node/767