TY - JOUR AU - Cooper, Monica AU - Daane, Kent M. AU - Nelson, Erik H. AU - Varela, Lucia G. AU - Battany, Mark AU - Tsutsui, Neil D. AU - Rust, Michael K. TI - Liquid baits control Argentine ants sustainably in coastal vineyards JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 2008/10/01 VL - 62 IS - 4 SP - 177 EP - 183 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3733/ca.v062n04p177 L3 - 10.3733/ca.v062n04p177 AB - Liquid ant baits are an alternative to broad-spectrum insecticide sprays conventionally used to control Argentine ants. We review the development of liquid ant baits, which capitalize on the ants' sugar-feeding requirements and social structure to deliver small doses of toxicant throughout the colony. The ant bait program described here, developed for commercial vineyards, also has the potential to facilitate the use of biological controls for mealybug and scale pests. The implementation of an Argentine ant bait program will enable grape growers to target other pests more selectively with insecticides, further contributing to their sustainable viticulture practices.