Harvester ant bioassay for assessing hazardous chemical waste sites
A technique was developed for using harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex owhyeei, in terrestrial bioassays. Procedures were developed for maintaining stock populations, handling ants, and exposing ants to toxic materials. Relative toxicities were determined by exposing ants to 10 different materials. These materials included three insecticides, Endrin, Aldrin, and Dieldrin; one herbicide, 2,4-D; three oil-like compounds, wood preservative, drilling fluid, and slop oil; and three heavy metals, copper, zinc, and cadmium. Ants were exposed in petri dishes containing soil amended with a particular toxicant. Under these test conditions, ants showed no sensitivity to the metals or 2,4-D. Ants were sensitive to the insecticides and oils in repeated tests, and relative toxicity remained consistent throughout. Aldrin was the most toxic material, followed by Dieldrin, Endrin, wood preservative, drilling fluid, and slop oil. 10 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6080598
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA-12810; ON: DE86005596; TRN: 86-004689
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CADMIUM
TOXICITY
COPPER
DRILLING FLUIDS
HERBICIDES
HYDROCARBONS
INSECTICIDES
PRESERVATIVES
TOXIC MATERIALS
BIOASSAY
ZINC
ANTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
DATA
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HYMENOPTERA
INFORMATION
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
MATERIALS
METALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PESTICIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)