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Steve Morgan, County Extension AgentHarris County, Georgia
Fire Ant Control In Pastures and Hayfields
FIRE ANT FACTS FIRE ANT FACTS
Accidentally introduced into US in 1930s• Stowaway in ship ballast, landed in Port
of Mobile, AL• Currently infests ~300 million acres in
US and Puerto Rico• Is adapting to drier conditions in
western areas of infestation
Accidentally introduced into US in 1930s• Stowaway in ship ballast, landed in Port
of Mobile, AL• Currently infests ~300 million acres in
US and Puerto Rico• Is adapting to drier conditions in
western areas of infestation
SPREAD OF FIRE ANTSSPREAD OF FIRE ANTS
• Mating flights (wind)• Flooding• Vehicles• Agricultural
commodities• Horticultural
commodities
• Mating flights (wind)• Flooding• Vehicles• Agricultural
commodities• Horticultural
commodities
The red shows the spread over time of the red imported fire ant (IFA) and black IFA (shown by crosshatching) within the United States. Projected future spread is shown in the lower left figure. Reproduced with permission from: Vinson SB, Sorensen, AA. Texas Department of Agriculture 1986. Copyright ©1986 Texas Department of Agriculture.
STATUS OF FIREANTS (NATIONWIDE)
Fire Ant Impact and Damage
Fire Ant Impact and Damage
Ecological: •Kill and eat ground-nesting birds and mammals •Destroy predators and parasites of pests
Agricultural: •Higher production costs •Increased risk of pesticides used to control fire ants
Courtesy of USDA ARS 2007
Fire Ant ImpactAnd Damage
Fire Ant ImpactAnd Damage
Medical Veterinary:
• Sting People and Pets • Attack Livestock and
Wildlife
Equipment:• Short out electrical
equipment• Damage mowers and
agricultural equipment
Medical Veterinary:
• Sting People and Pets • Attack Livestock and
Wildlife
Equipment:• Short out electrical
equipment• Damage mowers and
agricultural equipmentCourtesy of USDA ARS
IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION• Workers are polymorphic, generally
reddish-brown• Mounds (generally) honeycombed inside
• Workers are polymorphic, generally reddish-brown
• Mounds (generally) honeycombed inside
Courtesy TAMU
FIRE ANT REPRODUCTIONFIRE ANT REPRODUCTION
• MONOGYNE Single queen colonies Reproduce via mating
flights
• MONOGYNE Single queen colonies Reproduce via mating
flights
• POLYGYNE Multiple queen
colonies Reproduce via mating
flights Reproduce via
budding
• POLYGYNE Multiple queen
colonies Reproduce via mating
flights Reproduce via
budding
THE MOUND (GENERAL)THE MOUND (GENERAL)• Fire ant mounds are not
always easily detectable• Foraging tunnels radiate
out from the mound .75 inches to 3 inches below the soil
• Colonies are located in different parts of the mound at different times of the day
• Mound shape can change seasonally
• Fire ant mounds are not always easily detectable
• Foraging tunnels radiate out from the mound .75 inches to 3 inches below the soil
• Colonies are located in different parts of the mound at different times of the day
• Mound shape can change seasonally
NEST STRUCTURENEST STRUCTURE
Photo courtesy of Texas Ag. Ext. Servc.
2 WAYS TO TREAT FIRE ANTS
2 WAYS TO TREAT FIRE ANTS
• INDIVIDUAL MOUND TREATMENTS Labor intensive Rapid control if
contact insecticides used
Difficult to find all mounds
Temperature-dependent
• INDIVIDUAL MOUND TREATMENTS Labor intensive Rapid control if
contact insecticides used
Difficult to find all mounds
Temperature-dependent
• BROADCAST BAITS 80-90% effective Control is slow (2-8
weeks depending on product)
Controls small, hard to detect colonies
Can treat large areas Temperature-
dependent
• BROADCAST BAITS 80-90% effective Control is slow (2-8
weeks depending on product)
Controls small, hard to detect colonies
Can treat large areas Temperature-
dependent
INDIVIDUAL MOUND TREATMENTS
INDIVIDUAL MOUND TREATMENTS
• Dusts, granules and pre-measured
drenches
• Good if rapid control of a few mounds is
required
• Baits can be used on single mounds but control is slower
• Dusts, granules and pre-measured
drenches
• Good if rapid control of a few mounds is
required
• Baits can be used on single mounds but control is slower
Video Courtesy of USDA ARS
BROADCASTING BAITSBROADCASTING BAITS
• You should use a seed spreader to broadcast baits
• Cannot mix baits with fertilizer or other products
• Best for large areas that don’t require immediate control
• You should use a seed spreader to broadcast baits
• Cannot mix baits with fertilizer or other products
• Best for large areas that don’t require immediate control
BAITS LABELED FOR PASTURE AND HAYFIELDS
BAITS LABELED FOR PASTURE AND HAYFIELDS
Labeled For: PHI
Brand Name Active Ingredient Rate/Acre Cattle Horses For Hay
Amdro Hydramethylnon (0.73%) 1 to 1.5 Lbs. Yes Yes 7
Days
Extinguish Methoprene 1 to 1.5 Lbs. Yes Yes
Justice Spinosad Mound Only Yes Yes
Award Fenoxycarb 1 to 1.5 Lbs. No Yes
** For Mound Treatments Apply 1 – 3 Tablespoons/Mound
Labeled For: PHI
Brand Name Active Ingredient Rate/Acre Cattle Horses For Hay
Amdro Hydramethylnon (0.73%) 1 to 1.5 Lbs. Yes Yes 7
Days
Extinguish Methoprene 1 to 1.5 Lbs. Yes Yes
Justice Spinosad Mound Only Yes Yes
Award Fenoxycarb 1 to 1.5 Lbs. No Yes
** For Mound Treatments Apply 1 – 3 Tablespoons/Mound
Home RemediesHome Remedies• Hot or Boling Water makes the mound move to a new location
or drives the queen and a few workers deeper underground.
• Gasoline and other petroleum products will kill some fire ant colonies. However, petroleum products are dangerously flammable or explosive, kill grass and plants around the treated mounds, and they pollute the soil and ground water. Use of petroleum products, solvents, battery acids, bleaches or ammonia products is dangerous and discouraged.
• Soap solutions, cleaning products or wood ashes soaked into the mound are believed to remove the protective oil coating from the ants. However, their effectiveness in killing colonies is not documented.
• Grits are ineffective. In theory, the ants eat the grits, which then swell and rupture the ants’ stomachs. In fact, only the last stage of the developing fire ant is known to digest solid food. All other life stages feed only on liquids or greasy materials. Some natural substances found in crushed or grated citrus peels are toxic to fire ants.
• Hot or Boling Water makes the mound move to a new location or drives the queen and a few workers deeper underground.
• Gasoline and other petroleum products will kill some fire ant colonies. However, petroleum products are dangerously flammable or explosive, kill grass and plants around the treated mounds, and they pollute the soil and ground water. Use of petroleum products, solvents, battery acids, bleaches or ammonia products is dangerous and discouraged.
• Soap solutions, cleaning products or wood ashes soaked into the mound are believed to remove the protective oil coating from the ants. However, their effectiveness in killing colonies is not documented.
• Grits are ineffective. In theory, the ants eat the grits, which then swell and rupture the ants’ stomachs. In fact, only the last stage of the developing fire ant is known to digest solid food. All other life stages feed only on liquids or greasy materials. Some natural substances found in crushed or grated citrus peels are toxic to fire ants.
THE DOS AND DON’TS OF FIRE ANT CONTROL
THE DOS AND DON’TS OF FIRE ANT CONTROL
DISTURBING THE MOUNDDISTURBING THE MOUND
• Don’t disturb mounds prior to any sort of treatment. This will alert the ants to danger, and will decrease the likelihood of hitting the queen and most workers with insecticides.
• Don’t disturb mounds prior to any sort of treatment. This will alert the ants to danger, and will decrease the likelihood of hitting the queen and most workers with insecticides.
• Do take care to apply dusts, granules, and drenches very gently. This will insure contact with the greatest number of ants--and when baiting, will not distract ants from their foraging activity
• Do take care to apply dusts, granules, and drenches very gently. This will insure contact with the greatest number of ants--and when baiting, will not distract ants from their foraging activity
READING THE LABELREADING THE LABEL
• Don’t apply products without carefully reading label instructions. Many products have specialized instructions that should be followed for best results.
• Don’t apply products without carefully reading label instructions. Many products have specialized instructions that should be followed for best results.
• Do consult the label of the product you choose and check for info on timing of application, whether product requires watering in, etc.
• Do consult the label of the product you choose and check for info on timing of application, whether product requires watering in, etc.
BAITING INDIVIDUAL COLONIES
BAITING INDIVIDUAL COLONIES
• Don’t apply baits directly to the tops of mounds. This will increase the time it takes for the ants to discover and retrieve the bait and increase the chances of photodegradation.
• Don’t apply baits directly to the tops of mounds. This will increase the time it takes for the ants to discover and retrieve the bait and increase the chances of photodegradation.
• Do apply bait products in a circular fashion around individual mounds, approximately 2-3 feet from the mound’s base.
• Do apply bait products in a circular fashion around individual mounds, approximately 2-3 feet from the mound’s base.
TEMPERATURE AND MOUND TREATMENTSTEMPERATURE AND
MOUND TREATMENTS• Don’t treat individual
mounds when it is very hot or very cold outside. The colony will be far underground, lessening the chances of contacting all ants.
• Don’t treat individual mounds when it is very hot or very cold outside. The colony will be far underground, lessening the chances of contacting all ants.
• Do treat individual mounds on warm, sunny mornings that follow cool nights. The colony will be located near the top of the mound, where insecticides will have a better chance of contacting ants.
• Do treat individual mounds on warm, sunny mornings that follow cool nights. The colony will be located near the top of the mound, where insecticides will have a better chance of contacting ants.
TEMPERATURE AND BAIT BROADCASTING
TEMPERATURE AND BAIT BROADCASTING
• Don’t broadcast baits when it is too cold or too hot. Early season applications may not be effective--wait until late May-early June in Oklahoma.
• Don’t broadcast baits when it is too cold or too hot. Early season applications may not be effective--wait until late May-early June in Oklahoma.
• Do broadcast baits when temperature is between 70 and 90°F after monitoring for activity.
• Do broadcast baits when temperature is between 70 and 90°F after monitoring for activity.
RAIN AFFECTS BAITINGRAIN AFFECTS BAITING
• Don’t apply bait products right before or right after a rain. Generally, if rain is expected within 24 hours or has occurred in the last 24 hours, postpone baiting applications.
• Don’t apply bait products right before or right after a rain. Generally, if rain is expected within 24 hours or has occurred in the last 24 hours, postpone baiting applications.
• Do apply bait products when the ground is relatively dry. If applying in the morning, be sure that dew is not present on the grass.
• Do apply bait products when the ground is relatively dry. If applying in the morning, be sure that dew is not present on the grass.
GIVE BAITS TIME TO WORK
GIVE BAITS TIME TO WORK
• Don’t be impatient! Hydramethylnon formulations will take 2 weeks or more to work, and IGRs will take up to 6 or even 8 weeks. Further applications within this time interval is wasting money!
• Don’t be impatient! Hydramethylnon formulations will take 2 weeks or more to work, and IGRs will take up to 6 or even 8 weeks. Further applications within this time interval is wasting money!
• Do give the foraging ants plenty of time to retrieve and distribute baits. Delay any activity that would disturbe the colonies for at least 3 days after baiting, then treat problem mounds individually.
• Do give the foraging ants plenty of time to retrieve and distribute baits. Delay any activity that would disturbe the colonies for at least 3 days after baiting, then treat problem mounds individually.
USE FRESH PRODUCTSUSE FRESH PRODUCTS
• Don’t use bait formulations that were opened several months ago, or have been stored in a hot area or left in an unsealed container.
• Don’t use bait formulations that were opened several months ago, or have been stored in a hot area or left in an unsealed container.
• Do use fresh products whenever possible. Shake bait containers well before opening / using the product. Soybean oil attractants in baits can go rancid and can settle in stored containers.
• Do use fresh products whenever possible. Shake bait containers well before opening / using the product. Soybean oil attractants in baits can go rancid and can settle in stored containers.
COST CONSIDERATIONSCOST CONSIDERATIONS
• Cost of product Baits: per area basis or per mound basis
$9-15 / acre, $0.50-0.90 / mound Drenches, etc.: per mound basis
$0.15-0.25 / mound
• Time and Effort Needed For Applications Greater with Individual Mound Treatments
• Cost of product Baits: per area basis or per mound basis
$9-15 / acre, $0.50-0.90 / mound Drenches, etc.: per mound basis
$0.15-0.25 / mound
• Time and Effort Needed For Applications Greater with Individual Mound Treatments
SUMMARYSUMMARY• Knowledge of fire ant biology is essential
for successful control programs.• The two primary means of controlling fire
ants (baiting and mound treatments) involve different costs and benefits, and both can be integrated into a control program
• Most Home Remedies are Ineffective• Always read the labels of products before
use and apply all pesticides correctly.
• Knowledge of fire ant biology is essential for successful control programs.
• The two primary means of controlling fire ants (baiting and mound treatments) involve different costs and benefits, and both can be integrated into a control program
• Most Home Remedies are Ineffective• Always read the labels of products before
use and apply all pesticides correctly.
