For Agent Use

FA-APR-06

April 21, 2000
MANAGING THE IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN LAWNS
Contact: Paul R. Nester, (281) 855-5600, p-nester@tamu.edu
Charles L. Barr, (979)845-6800, c-barr@tamu.edu

HOUSTON- They're back. Fire ants that is. As the days begin to get longer and sunnier, fire ant activity increases. While the dry winter has kept fire ants deep in the ground, recent rains and mild temperatures have helped them survive with only a small reduction in their numbers.

"Fire ants seem to love building mounds in pavement cracks, along sidewalks and driveways, flower beds and anywhere else we plan to walk or play," says Paul Nester, Harris County Extension Agent for the Integrated Pest Management program. "The key to effective fire ant management is knowing your situation and choosing the right program."

If there are native competitor ants present and fewer than four or five fire ant mounds per average yard, an individual mound treatment approach is best, Nester explains.

"This method helps protect populations of native ants and allows them to better compete with fire ants."

There are six ant species known to attack red imported fire ant workers, brood and queen or compete for food. Some of these native and exotic "desirable" competitor ant species may be the best way to the fight against the red imported fire ant in Texas. Try monitoring your lawn for the presence of these native competitor ants and identify the type of imported fire ant problem you have to help select one of the following programs.

Nester and fire ant researcher Charles Barr, with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at College Station have outlined the most common fire ant problems and the best individual solutions.

For fast, thorough control of many mounds
Treatment:  The Texas Two-Step Method

Pesticide(s): A broadcast bait and an individual mound treatment product will be needed.

Equipment: A broadcast spreader, container for the solution, measuring tools, rubber gloves.

Procedure: The Two-Step Method works by broadcasting a fire ant bait around the affected area. Two or three days later, treat only the nuisance mounds with the individual mound treatment. Limit treatments to problem colonies located in high-traffic areas or other trouble spots.

Follow-up: Monitor the yard and treat individual mounds as they re-appear. Repeat Texas

Two-Step Procedure once or twice per year as dictated by weather patterns.

Expectations: Ant colonies in the individually treated mounds should die within a day or more, depending on treatment selected. Mounds affected by the bait treatments will take two weeks to several months, depending on bait type. You should achieve greater than 90 percent control within a few months and be able to maintain it with occasional mound treatments and/or annual bait treatments.

Pros-cons: Best suited for larger (> 1/4 acre) yards or neighborhoods. Controls unseen colonies over time, visible ones quickly. It may utilize two products and some labor.

For only a few mounds
Treatment:  Individual mound treatments only

Pesticide: An individual mound treatment product, or method.

Equipment: Container for solution and/or measuring tools, rubber gloves, other specialized equipment if necessary.

Procedure: Find/treat individual mounds. Follow label directions for pesticides, or follow safe procedures for non-pesticide treatments.

Follow-up: Monitor the yard and treat individual imported fire ant mounds as they appear.

Expectations: Treated colonies will die in a few days depending on treatment selected. Only the mounds you find will be treated, so untreated mounds may appear almost immediately or at any time and will be ongoing.

Pros-cons: May be less expensive for few mounds, fast, but may use more expensive chemicals. There are some plant-derived, "organic", and non-chemical mound treatments available. This method kills only the fire ants treated and spares the other native ant species. Requires labor to find and treat mounds and it may be almost impossible to locate all mounds in an area.

For maximum control and to protect against fire ant sting allergies
Treatment: The Ant Elimination Method

Pesticide: A contact-type granule or spray concentrate, broadcast bait optional.

Equipment: Pressure, hose-end, or other type sprayer or granular applicator.

Procedure: One to two days before the event, broadcast apply an effective fire ant bait product. Spray a liquid or distribute a granular insecticide product across entire area according to label directions. Always follow label directions for use of pesticides. Water as directed.

Follow-up: If need for suppression is ongoing, repeat every 8 to12 weeks, or when ant

activity returns.

Expectations: Treatment will immediately eliminate all surface ant activity for 8 to12 weeks, but will not eliminate colonies underground unless applied routinely for a prolonged period of time.

Pros-cons: This approach results in no ant activity on the surface, and may not kill colonies. It uses relatively more pesticide than other approaches.

For easy, inexpensive and thorough management--but not 100% control
Treatment: Broadcast Bait Only Method

Pesticide: A broadcast bait product.

Equipment: Hand held seeder or broadcast spreader.

Procedure: Broadcast a bait product across entire area when ants are foraging.

Follow-up: Apply semi-annually for fast-acting bait; annually for slow-acting baits.

Expectations: Bait will eliminate up to 90 percent of colonies, regardless of how many there were initially. Fast-acting types take 2 to 6 weeks, slow acting types take 4 to 24 weeks, longest when applied in the fall.

Pros-cons: Very easy to apply, inexpensive and safe, but slow to work; provides 80 to 90 percent control.

• Treat when temperature is between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Use hand held or broadcast spreader set on smallest setting.

• Check one or more mounds for brood (their developmental stages: eggs, larvae, and pupae). These are the whitish objects seen when a mound is disturbed. They should be present at the time of application. Apply only when ants are actively searching for food (early morning or mid- to late-afternoon)

• Apply when ground is dry. In summer, apply baits in the evening. During the cool of the evening ants will quickly discover and carry off baits.

• Apply when rain is not expected for at least eight hours (24 hours is better).

• Use fresh product. Shelf life of bait products is generally up to two years for unopened containers; one year for opened and sealed containers; and one to two months for opened containers.

• Do not apply to bodies of water or sites not listed on the label.