Asim Renyard

Project Description

My project investigates pheromonal communication and aphid-ant interactions in the western carpenter ant (WCA), Camponotus modoc. WCAs are significant structural pests, causing damage by excavating tunnel galleries in wood to expand or create nesting sites. Poison food baits are an appealing tactic for WCA control as ants exhibit food sharing (trophallactic) behaviour. However, many baits are ineffective for carpenter ants. We seek to identify attractive pheromones and semiochemicals (message-bearing chemicals) derived from natural food sources (e.g. aphids honeydew), which could be formulated into a lure for WCAs. In addition, we are investigating preferences of WCAs for certain sugar molecules which could provide insight into foraging patterns in nature.

Publications

Brodie B., Renyard A., Gries R., Zhai H., Avery J., Ogilvie S., & (2018) Identification and field testing of floral odorants that attract the rove beetle Pelecomalium testaceum (Mannerheim) to skunk cabbage, Lysichiton americanum (L.). Arthropod-Plant Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11829-018-9607-z

Conference Presentations

Renyard A., Munoz A., Gries R., Kumar S. & Gries, G. Identification and testing of the trail pheromone in the carpenter ant Camponotus modoc.

Presented at:

• Annual General Meeting and Symposium of the Professional Pest Management Association of BC. Burnaby BC, Mar 05, 2018.
• Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference Annual Meeting. Bamfield BC, Feb. 23-25, 2018.
• Ecology and Evolution Retreat. Squamish BC, Nov 3-5, 2017. Annual General Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada. Winnipeg MB, Oct 21-25, 2017.

Chalissery J., Hoefele D., Renyard A., & Gries, G. Development of a food bait for European Fire Ants. Annual General Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada. Winnipeg MB, Oct. 21-25, 2017.

Renyard A., Gries R., & Gries, G. Identification and testing of the poison gland pheromone in the carpenter ant Camponotus modoc.

Presented at:

• Annual General Meeting and Symposium of the Professional Pest Management Association of BC. Burnaby BC, Feb. 28, 2017.
• Pacific Ecology and Evolution Conference Annual Meeting. Bamfield BC, Feb. 24-26, 2017.