Pesticides are widely used to control harmful pest species in agriculture. However, they can also negatively affect beneficial non-target organisms, which is why extensive testing is required before they are approved for environmental application. To evaluate these risks, various model organisms from different taxonomic groups are used to study both short- and long-term effects. Despite their ecological significance, ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), eusocial insects that live in colonies with distinct reproductive division of labour, have been largely overlooked in pesticide risk assessments. In this study, we present a testing scheme to assess both lethal and sublethal effects of pesticides across different ant castes. Using the neonicotinoid imidacloprid as a test substance, we demonstrate the feasibility of ants as model organisms by testing three different ant species. We findings highlight caste-specific adverse effects in terms of survival, development and reproduction.
