| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立彰化師範大學 === 生物學系 === 104 === Dolichoderus bituberculatus was discovered and named by Mayr (1862) in the Philippines. However, Shattuck (1994) thought that the name of the species was synonymous with that of Dolichoderus thoracicus, a species which is mainly distributed throughout Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Southern China, and Taiwan. Dolichoderus thoracicus is the only ant species in the Dolichoderus genus found in Taiwan, mainly distributed in Southern Taiwan, Hualien County, and Taitung County. However, the intrusion region has been spreading to the north in recent years. As a result, the species is gradually invading human habitats and causing harm. Currently, there have been some dangerous cases of Dolichoderus thoracicus invaded homes, schools, and temples in some townships and towns in the mountain areas near Tainan city, Chiayi County, Nantou County, and Miaoli County. Dolichoderus thoracicus disrupts the everyday living of the residents of the community as well as their environments and farming practices. Several years ago, it was found that the colony of Dolichoderus thoracicus had increased tremendously near farmlands and communities in an area in Xihu township, Miaoli County, and the ants had irrupted in houses and began to harass and attack residents. This has resulted in an extreme disturbance in the living environments and farming practices of local residents. Currently, the danger posed by Dolichoderus thoracicus is more severe in Xihu township than in Sihu, Wuhu, and Long Dong. In this study, liquid boric acid, to which Dolichoderus thoracicus is more attracted, will be used as food bait in a specially designed liquid bait station apparatus to attract Dolichoderus thoracicus. Employing the ants’ habit of mutual trophallaxis, the toxicity of the bait can be transmitted to members of the entire ant nest, resulting in the lifespan of ants being shortened to less than a month and succeeding effective control of the ant population. By decreasing the population number and density of Dolichoderus thoracicus in these areas and setting points for monitoring changes in population density, we can better understand the nature of changes in the population of Dolichoderus thoracicus and the effectiveness of the control.
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