American Entomologist (2000) 46, 50-55

Elson J. Shields, Vanessa Y. Jacobs-Lorena, Michael Blagen and A.M. Testa (2000)
Economic impact of carpenter ants, Camponotus spp., control on utility poles
American Entomologist 46 (1), 50-55
Abstract: An in-depth analysis of the transmission line pole databases for a major northeast utility company providing service to central New York and northern Pennsylvania was conducted to identify key factors (e.g., species, location, age, environmental conditions, treatment practices) predisposing poles to carpenter ant (Camponotus spp.) attack and the influence of those key factors on infestation (e.g., time to first infestation, infestation rate, reinfestation probability). A computer model to predict the probability of carpenter ant infestation based on the key factor analysis was developed. Currently, the utility company uses an ant inspection/treatment program on a 10-year cycle. High rates of pole infestations by carpenter ants indicate that the current ant management program is ineffective and results in 100–250 pole replacements each year at a cost to the company (and its customers) of 4–11 million. Three different ant management programs are proposed, and the associated cost analysis suggests that adoption of an improved ant management program would save the utility company between 1.5 and 7.2 million per year. Investment in an effective ant management program would return between 0.81 and 12.75 for every 1.00 invested, depending on the program adopted.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Camponotus pennsylvanicus	Wood products	U.S.A. (NE)
	Camponotus novaeboracensis	Wood products	U.S.A. (NE)