Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control

TopChoice™

Advantages:

• Very long true residual control
• Can be applied in any season

Disadvantages:

• Expensive
• Slow compared to Advion

This product IS NOT a bait. However, it is commonly confused with baits because of its speed of activity and application method. It can be used as a compliment to or in place of bait products when long residual activity is a primary goal of a control program.

Active Ingredient: 0.0143% fipronil

Similar Products: Over 'N Out

Application Rate, Broadcast: 87 lbs. per acre (2 lbs/1000 square feet) followed by irrigation. Do not use as an individual mound treatment.

Speed of Control: relatively fast, 3 - 4 weeks

Duration of Control: very long true residual control, 8-12+ months; colonies migrating into treated areas will die off in 3-4 weeks, as if they had been treated; only one application per year is even allowed.

Approximate Cost: $245 per acre

Best used for: Very thorough, long-lasting control for high traffic areas and "high end" properties.

Best season for application: Can be used at any time of year since it is not a bait.

Sources: Commercial pesticide suppliers

Toxicity: very low; do not apply where granules may be washed into water

Agricultural Uses: None

Mixing with other products: None labeled. Test results indicate that it can be mixed and immediately applied with label rate of Advion for very fast and long duration control.

General Comments: TopChoice is a very effective, but expensive product relative to most baits. While no bait provides true (chemical) residual control, TopChoice will kill reinvading colonies for many months.

Manufacturer: Bayer Environmental Science

Web site (including label and MSDS): http://www.bayerprocentral.com/green/products/view:topchoice/