COMMUNITY-WIDE IMPORTED FIRE ANT MANAGEMENT PILOT SHOWCASE PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORTS

Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management  Project
1998-1999

Contents

Travis/Williamson County, Texas 1998-1999 Showcase Programs:  an Update Mt. Bonnell/Colorado Crossing Homeowner Association
and Apache Oaks Neighborhood Association 

A Tale of Two Neighborhoods: Examination of Fire Ant Infestations Before
and After Community-Wide Fire Ant Treatments in Two San Antonio, Texas Neighborhoods 

Community-Wide Fire Ant Management in Dallas and Tarrant Counties, Texas:  An Overview 

Funding provided in 1997 from the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project was used to establish four Extension Agent - Integrated Pest Management (EA-IPM) positions or IPM Program Units in Dallas-Tarrant, Travis-Williamson, Bexar and Harris counties, along with an Extension Program Specialist headquartered in the District 9 Extension office in Brazos County to provide statewide technical coordination. The primary focus for the first two years of the program was to facilitate the implementation and evaluation of "pilot showcase" community-wide fire ant management programs.

In each Fire Ant IPM Program unit and in Mount Pleasant, one or more community areas have been selected to be pilot showcase program efforts. Assistance was provided by Extension staff to design, implement and evaluate pilot showcase programs as a way to help promote wide-spread adoption of the community-wide fire ant management approach. Each case documents a slightly different approach to address achieving the goal of implementing and sustaining such a program. The designated program areas have been and will continue to be closely monitored to provide detailed, scientifically-valid documentation of program impact and success. Pre- and post- surveys of residents have been used to provide documentation of changes in insecticide use practices, economic impact and attitudes towards fire ants and pesticides. Ant species, including native, exotic and fire ants have been monitored using ant nest or mound counts and also with bait stations periodically through time.

Dr. Scott R. Cummings from Agricultural Education and Dr. John Ellis from the Department of Agricultural Economics assisted in developing surveys used to assess these programs. Many other individuals from collaborating in the Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan (Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Tech University, University of Texas and the Texas Department of Agriculture) have provided input and review for pilot community-wide fire ant management pilot showcase program efforts conducted by Texas Agricultural Extension Service staff.

The four reports included in this booklet were initially published in the Proceedings 2000 Imported Fire Ant Conference, Chattanooga, Tennessee, held April 6-7, 2000.

- compiled by Bastiaan M. Drees, Coordinator for the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research & Management Project, May 2000

The Showcase Program at the Mount Pleasant Housing Authority was initiated to demonstrate the efficacy, economy and practicality of community-wide fire ant management in a high-density housing situation. Several of the foundations of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), upon which these management programs are based, are to reduce pesticide usage, increase effectiveness and reduce cost. The Housing Authority proved to be an almost ideal location to illustrate these principles.

Furthermore, the Housing Authority population was made up almost entirely of elderly/disabled persons and families with young children, two groups particularly at risk of fire ant injuries. Control of fire ants in areas frequented by these individuals becomes a matter of safety rather than convenience. The project also gave us the opportunity to hold a meeting to publicize the Red Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan and educate the public on fire ants and their management.

The Mount Pleasant Housing Authority. The housing authority is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It consists of about 22 acres near a major highway intersection just south of the city of Mount Pleasant business district in northeast Texas. Mount Pleasant is about two-thirds of the way between Dallas and Texarkana on I-30 and is the county seat of Titus County. The Authority is managed by Ms. Candace Martin who first brought their fire ant problem to the attention of her long-time friend, Mr. Dick McCarver who is the Titus County Agent. The complex includes 120 single-story units in duplexes, triplexes and four-plexes. The units are arranged along winding streets and several cul-de-sacs. Families, comprising about 20% of the population, occupy one end of the complex with elderly and/or disabled residents occupying the rest.

It must be stated that the Mount Pleasant Housing Authority does not fit the popular perception of a "housing project" - a barren, littered, broken-down set of drab buildings infested with drugs and crime. Rather, the area is shady, very well kept and rather pleasing in appearance. Over the years, residents have added landscaping around their units and many of the more active elderly residents take considerable pride in their yards.

Associated Educational Activities. By coincidence, a regional meeting of housing authority managers was held at the Mount Pleasant site on 16 September. Rody Best briefed them on the Fire Ant Plan and upcoming activities. Several managers have been in communication with Ms. Martin since that time. The management plan for the Authority was formally initiated on 17 September 1998 during the first Texas Fire Ant Awareness Week with a press conference held at the Housing Authority.

Approximately 60 people attended and speakers included: Hon. Tom Ramsay (D - Mt. Vernon), the sponsor of the Fire Ant Plan; Mr. Randy Upshaw - TAEX District 4 Director; Dr. Bart Drees, Fire Ant Plan Coordinator; Mr. Dick McCarver and Dr. Charles Barr. Several local dignitaries were also present. A display and handouts on fire ant management were also available. Following the presentations, demonstrations on proper methods of broadcasting fire ant bait were conducted. Several members of the print and television media were in attendance and stories on the project were broadcast by stations in Tyler, Texarkana and Shreveport, LA.

Materials and Methods

Biological Survey Activities. Before treatments were initiated, surveys of both fire ants and native ants were conducted. Fire ant populations were assessed by counting the number of active mounds in randomly selected plots on 16 September. Because of so much paved area, it was impossible to create plots of uniform size. Rather, plots were designated following sidewalks, streets, walls and other convenient landmarks as borders. The features were noted, measured where possible and a sketch made of the general shape of each plot. Plot locations were referenced to unit number and geo-referenced by GPS using a Trimble XRS Pro receiver. At a later date, Rody Best used a computer landscape program to convert the measurements and sketches into scale drawings of each plot. The area of each was also calculated. In this way, mound counts could be standardized to a mound density basis. Mound activity was evaluated using the minimal disturbance technique. Post-treatment mound counts were taken on these same plots on 15 October and 15 December 1998, 16 March and 22 September 1999.

The total ant population was sampled using glass vials baited with soft, dry cat food which were placed in the previously designated plots. Vials were set out the morning of 17 September and allowed to sit for approximately one hour. They were then picked up, sealed, filled with alcohol and stored for later identification and enumeration .

Resident Surveys. Prior to arrival in Mount Pleasant, we were warned by Ms. Martin that most of the residents had very low reading levels. To compensate, a simple, one-page survey was developed to help assess the different types and severity of fire ant problems the residents encountered. We were also cautioned that many residents were wary of people coming to their doors and that some of the more severely disabled residents found it nearly impossible to answer a knock. Consequently, we decided to approach residents who happened to be outside.

It quickly became apparent that reading levels were very low and that the only way to obtain useful information was through informal interviews. Consequently, survey forms were used only as a guide when interviewing residents who were outside. Efforts were made to sample residents from all parts of the complex and to include young residents with families as well as the elderly. A similar method and identical survey was used to assess resident opinions on 22 September 1999.

Treatments were repeated 22 September 1999 using similar equipment. The broadcast bait, however, was changed to Extinguish™ (0.5% s-methoprene), a slow-acting insect growth regulator that would hopefully provide longer ant suppression than the Amdro®.

Results

Biological Survey. Figure 1 shows a graph of the mean number of active fire ant mound populations in the 15 designated plots, adjusted to a per-acre basis. Most of the mounds found at the one month evaluation were in only three plots. It was surmised that ant colonies in these plots, all in full sun and dry sites, had not fully "geared up" after the drought and were not foraging on oily materials, such as bait. Amdro was re-applied to these three plots on the 3-month evaluation date.

Figure 1.  Mean number of active fire ant mounds.

Even at one year post-treatment, mound numbers were only 27% of pre-count levels. The reduction was easily visible when compared to the year before. Examination of bait vials indicated that Solenopsis invicta was present and exclusive in all but one. That vial appeared to contain three pyramid ants, Dorymyrmex pyramicus, whose distinctive cone-shaped mounds were noted in the area of that plot. One of the residents of this area reported that he regularly treated mounds, a possible reason for the existence of something other than a red imported fire ant.

Resident Surveys. Even though relatively few residents were interviewed, 18 and 12, in 1998 and 1999 respectively, they represented about 15% of the residences. The number of occupied units was down considerably in 1999 due to major remodeling. One advantage of the informal interview format was that the interviewer got a "feel" for resident opinions, not just simple answers. These observations were reflected in the actual data. Several questions on the survey drew lukewarm, confused or no responses, so we stopped asking them. A more complete accounting of responses will be presented as this program continues. Below are some comparisons from 1998 to 1999.

The first question usually asked of residents was, "How big a problem are fire ants in this neighborhood?" Results comparing 1998, before the start of treatments, and 1999, a year after program initiation are presented in Figure 2. The most striking observation is that none of the residents surveyed in 1999 felt that fire ants were a "very bad" problem. In 1998, a third of the respondents felt that they were a very bad problem.

Figure 2. Responses to "How big a problem are fire ants in this neighborhood?"

Another question of interest was how much money people spent controlling fire ants in a normal year. It must be remembered that all these people were on an extremely limited budget (or they couldn't have lived in subsidized housing). One elderly lady interviewed in 1999 mentioned that her income was $399 per month, yet she spent some of that on fire ant control. Figure 3 shows the distribution of the responses to the question, "How much do you spend per year controlling fire ants now?"

Figure 3. Response to "How much do you spend per year controlling fire ants now?"

Note the downward shift in expenditures from 1998 to 1999. The mean (using range midpoints) dropped from $12.50 in 1998 to $7.08 in 1999. Informally, we tried to find out what the residents used to treat for fire ants. Most said they didn't know, but showed us the container sitting on their porch. We can only imaging how well label directions were followed! Granular diazinon, chlorpyrifos and acephate dust (Orthene^®) were the most common products. None reported using a bait for either individual mound treatments or broadcast treatments.

Finally, we asked residents whether they would be willing to pay, and how much, to be part of a program that treated the entire complex if everyone else had to pay, as well. Results are presented in Figure 4. Not surprisingly, many felt it was the Housing Authority that should pay and that number increased from 1998 to 1999. The amount people were willing to pay also dropped considerably.

There is good news and bad news in these responses. The bad news is that a substantial number of people were not willing to, or could not afford to, pay for such a management plan. The good news is that a majority were and that the amount they were willing to pay would cover the costs of treatment products. These results also point out a curious trend in human nature. More people are willing to pay more when a problem is bad. When the problem subsides, they shift the burden and/or their resources elsewhere.

Treatment Economics. As mentioned, the two or three dollars many residents would be willing to pay for a fire ant treatment program would be enough to cover the product costs. The housing complex encompassed a total of 22 acres. It is estimated that approximately two-thirds of that area is either paved or buildings, giving a total treatable area of only (rounding up) eight acres. If purchased in 25 lb. bags, most baits cost around $8.00 per pound. Therefore, an expenditure of about $70 per year ($140 if two treatments were required) for just the product could cut fire ant populations by 80-90%. It is suspected that repeated treatments would all but eliminate fire ants, requiring, at most, one treatment per year and maybe less. There would, of course, be costs associated with applying the bait, but even a doubling of two treatments per year would result in a cost of only about $2.00 per unit.

Conclusions

The fire ant management program at the Mount Pleasant Housing Authority can be considered a success on almost every level. There was considerable local and regional publicity obtained from the press conference. Fire ant populations were cut to zero within three months and stayed at less than 30% of the pre-program levels for a year. Residents reported a greatly reduced, though not eliminated, fire ant problem. Expenditures on and use of fire ant control products was reduced, not only saving the residents money, but reducing the potential of runoff and leaching from overuse and misuse of contact insecticides.

Even though the likelihood of resident financial participation in such a plan seems unlikely, this story has a happy, long-term ending. During our last visit, Ms. Martin reported that, due to a change in HUD funding strategies, small complexes such as Mount Pleasant, would be automatically receiving block grants rather than being forced to compete for funds with larger projects. Though the idea of having a utility vehicle like our 'Gator seemed to appeal to her as much as fire ant control, she indicated that they would be spending some of that grant money on a bait spreader and fire ant bait on a regular basis. We will continue to monitor the progress of the showcase program at the Mount Pleasant Housing Authority.

Travis/Williamson County, Texas 1998-1999 Showcase Programs: an Update
Mt. Bonnell/Colorado Crossing Homeowner Associationand Apache Oaks Neighborhood Association

Lisa Lennon, Extension Agent - IPM - Fire Ant Project
Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Travis/Williamson Co.

The Mt. Bonnell neighborhood consisting of 137 homes, is an on-going pilot fire ant management project that began fall 1998. Of data obtained from a post-treatment survey in fall 1999, 84 percent of the respondents have noticed fewer imported fire ants since the project's inception. The neighborhood is a dynamic area resulting in several residents being unfamiliar with the fire ant project from 1998. Informal surveys conducted by this Extension Agent suggest that homeowners have high interest in fire ant management, since the neighborhood has many young families with small children. Prior to this project, 34 percent of respondents rated their fire ant knowledge as 'low'. Survey results indicate that 67 percent rated the project as 'highly valuable' in terms of helping them understand better fire ant control.

Following an initial fire ant management presentation to the Apache Oaks Neighborhood Association on May 3, 1999, the residents decided to participate as a pilot showcase project for Williamson County. Their neighborhood was selected to develop documentation of the success of this fire ant management approach for use by other interested neighborhoods. In the Apache Oaks Neighborhood, critical data was obtained by monitoring imported fire ant populations and the presence of other ant species in yards. Residents were also surveyed to document pesticide use practice changes resulting from program participation, as well as the social and economic impact of fire ants on citizens in this urban neighborhood.

The Neighborhoods. Mt. Bonnell Subdivision was developed in the mid 1980's with several homes currently being built. It is located in west Austin bordered by Lake Austin on the west, with properties backing up to a tributary/greenbelt on the south. Lot sizes widely vary, so for the purpose of this study, random lots were selected and portions of those lots were measured and recorded using G.P.S. coordinates. The resulting lot dimension averaged 2,045 sq.ft. which contains either St. Augustine, Bermuda turf or mixture of the two, with part shade to sunny areas.

The Neighborhood of Apache Oaks of similar age as Mt. Bonnell, is located in eastern Round Rock off FM 1431, one mile north of Highway 79. There are 72 homes that comprise the subdivision and lot sizes are roughly 5,000 to 10,000 square feet including the home. Turf is St. Augustine, Bermuda or mixture of the two with sun to part shade.

Materials and Methods

Mt. Bonnell Neighborhood. One of the main concerns with the Mt. Bonnell neighborhood is the diverse ant population found coexisting with the red imported fire ant. Pre-treatment biological survey in Oct. 1998 had indicated there were five native ant species in addition to the most visible red imported fire ants. Homeowners were educated to this finding prior to the first treatment in 1998. Most chose to broadcast treat anyway, others used an individual mound treatment (Orthene® containing acephate) in some areas, bait in others. A subsequent pre-treatment biological survey in October 1999 indicated there were seven native ant species in addition to red imported fire ants. As in 1998, homeowners were made aware of this fact and most chose to broadcast treat.

For each biological survey, bait cups were used consisting of a small amount of tuna with oil. Ants were captured and placed in one-dram vials for identification. Baits were donated in 1998 for incentive purposes by Novartis (Award®), Wellmark (Extinguish® containing methoprene), and American Cyanamid (Amdro® containing hydramethylnon). The Mt. Bonnell Homeowners Association provided the hand-held seeder spreaders for the neighborhood to use. In 1999, Distance® Fire Ant Bait containing pyriproxyfen was donated by Valent Corporation.

Ant monitoring: Beginning on May 19, 1999, thirteen yards were selected at random for sampling imported fire ant populations and the presence of native ant species. Only front yards were used, and the average square footage of the area surveyed was 2,400. Imported fire ant mounds were counted and bait cups containing fish flavored cat food were placed in yards for less than 60 minutes to attract and collect any native or exotic ant species present. The first post-treatment ant mound counts were obtained on July 22, nine weeks after treatment, and ants were sampled using baited vials on September 1, 1999, 15 weeks after treatments were applied.

Treatment: The initial community-wide treatment date was May 22, 1999. Three fire ant bait products were donated for use in different yards, including: Award® (containing fenoxycarb, similar to Logic®), Distance® (pyriproxyfen), and a small amount Seige® Pro (hydramethylnon, similar to Amdro®). Bait used in this demonstration was donated by the product manufacturers, (see above credits).

Survey of residents: A six page survey developed by Dr. Charles L. Barr, Extension Program Specialist was mailed to each homeowner two days prior to treatment day. Completed surveys were mailed to College Station for evaluation.

Mt. Bonnell Neighborhood. 

During the 1999 treatment, 127 out of 137 homeowners participated in the 'treatment day.' Several television stations were present to interview homeowners and film them treating their yards. This is another focus of the pilot project - exposure. This neighborhood serves as a model for other neighborhoods and communities to emulate.

Objectives for the community-wide fire ant management program are:

· Provide education of usable and sustainable solutions for fire ant control,

· Educate homeowners in the proper use of fire ant pesticides and their effects,

· Decrease the impact of fire ants in the neighborhood, so children can play without being stung.

The post-treatment survey data can be used as a microcosm for other communities who implement the fire ant management program. Of the Mt. Bonnell residents who participated, 54 percent said they have already or will now change they way they control fire ants. Residents now expect to treat for fire ants in the fall. Ninety two (92) percent of the survey respondents noted that the neighborhood wide method of control is worth the time and effort.

Apache Oaks Neighborhood.

Ant surveys: Prior to treatment, imported fire ant mound numbers ranged from zero to seven per yard with an average of 3.67 per yard (a total of 44 mounds in 31,172.6 sq. ft. total for 13 front lawns). Bait cup sample results documented that the red imported fire ant was the dominant ant species present prior to treatment. The nine-week post-treatment mound counts revealed that out of the 13 yards surveyed, four imported fire ant mounds total were found; averaging 0.33 per yard. Thus, treatments coupled with hot, dry weather resulted in a 91 percent reduction of ant mound numbers.

Post-treatment baited vial samples obtained September 1 clearly shows that the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) was considerably decreased, and that the native fire ant, (Solenopsis geminata), became the dominant ant. This species is not generally considered to be a serious pest ant species; its presence is actually thought to help in the fight against the imported fire ant by competing with it for food and nesting sites. According to Dr. Rich Patrock of the University of Texas Brackenrige Field Lab who identified the ants collected following treatment, the recovery of the S. geminata following treatment is a very interesting finding but diversity indices using ant counts are not reliable because of recruitment differences across taxa and the interaction of recruitment with timing of discovery by the ants and the timing of the bait checks. There was a gain in diversity once you removed S. invicta (mean of -0.385 but not a significant increase t of 1.05, p =0.316). The question remains: where was the S. geminata before S. invicta were knocked out?

Treatment: A participation rate of 95 percent was achieved; 68 out of 72 homeowners treated their yards, either themselves or using volunteers from the neighborhood association.

Survey of residents: Of all the surveys mailed to residents, thirty percent were returned. Participants reported spending an average of $40 (from $1 to $100 per year), on fire ant treatment products. The frequency of treatments ranged from two to four times per year to more than once per month.

As a result of the bait treatments, Apache Oaks homeowners spent considerably less to treat their lawns. Using approximately 50 pounds of bait product at a cost of ~ $400, homeowners will spend $6 (or $5-$10) per year to treat their neighborhood, for an average reduction of $34. Most homeowners will not spend much more than this figure, to support this data, there were not enough mounds to justify treatment for the fall.

Conclusions

These neighborhood projects will continue to be monitored through the Extension Service. The goal of the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan is to reduce fire ant populations to a level that eliminates this insect as a serious pest in terms of economic losses and health threats. Data confirms success of the Two-Step method encouraged by the Extension Service for controlling red imported fire ants, without sacrificing native or competitor ant species. Residents from both neighborhoods feel a sense of accomplishment for their efforts and plan to continue the program.

Acknowledgements:

Melanie Duck, Mt. Bonnell Association - thanks are not enough for her outstanding positive attitude and ever willingness to accommodate the needs of the Fire Ant Project. I would like to thank Dale A. Mott, EA-IPM, Williamson Co. for his help with the Apache Oaks Project. Also, to Rody Best, Extension Associate, Fire Ant Project for his help in the Mt. Bonnell Project. As well thanks to Mike Sheppard, Apache Oaks Association President. A very special thanks to manufacturers reps for providing fire ant bait: Travis Klosterboer, Novartis Crop Protection, Inc., Pamella Knoepfli, Valent Professional Products, Doug VanGundy, Wellmark International, Bret E. Royal, American Cyanamid, for without their help these projects would not have been successful.

Table 1. Mt. Bonnell Data: Mound Counts & Biological Surveys.

*Species of ants abbreviated as follows: SI-Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta), MM-Little Black Ant (Monomorium minimum), SG-Native Fire Ant (Solenopsis geminata), P-Big-Headed Ant (Pheidole spp.), PV (Paratrechina vivdula), PL (Paratrechina longicornis), CL-Acrobat Ant (Crematogaster laeviscula) F (Forelius foetidas); (c) Control.

Table 2. Apache Oaks Data: Mound Counts and Biological Surveys.

A Tale of Two Neighborhoods: Examination of Fire Ant Infestations Before and After 
Community-Wide Fire Ant Treatments in Two San Antonio, Texas Neighborhoods.

Nathan Riggs, Extension Agent - IPM
Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Bexar County

Abstract

The Jade Oaks and Countryside Neighborhoods in San Antonio, Texas instituted community-wide treatment programs for fire ant management in the Fall of 1998 and Spring of 1999. Fire ant-related treatment costs prior to initiating these programs averaged $111.30 for 55% of survey respondents and $38.33 for 82.8% of survey respondents, respectively. Pre-treatment mound counts averaged 4.7 per lawn and 0.1 per lawn in the two neighborhoods and were reduced to zero from 2 weeks to 6 months after treatment. Prior to treatment, biological surveys captured 5 species of ants (including fire ants) in Jade Oaks and 11 species of ants (including fire ants) in Countryside. Post-treatment surveys captured 3 ant species and 13 ant species respectively. Lawns in Jade Oaks were treated with a broadcast application of AMDRO^® Fire Ant Bait (hydramethylnon) while Countryside lawns received a broadcast application of PT^® 370 ASCEND™ Fire Ant Stopper^® Bait (abamectin).

Introduction

Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) have been responsible for anywhere from $300 (Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan) to $581 million (Lard, et al) in losses to Texans each year. These damages come in the form of chemical and medical treatments, destruction of electrical equipment, and livestock losses. The largest source of pesticide expenditures against fire ant infestations occurs in urban areas. Costs attributed to fire ants in the San Antonio area alone were reported at $16.7 million in 1992 (Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan) and $202 million in 1998 (Lard, et al). The Jade Oaks and Countryside Neighborhoods represent two distinctly different neighborhoods in terms of their ecosystems and fire ant infestation level. Each neighborhood instituted a community-wide fire ant management program with assistance from the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan.

The Neighborhoods. The Jade Oaks neighborhood is relatively new with home construction beginning during late 1996. The neighborhood is located in northwest San Antonio and is surrounded on three sides by post oak savanna and native grasses. The average lot size in Jade Oaks is ~7,600 ft² including the home. Actual turf on each lot averages ~4,000 ft². The majority of lots contain a range of shade from 0 to 35%. Turfgrass is primarily St. Augustine variety with a small number of Zoysia and Bermuda variety lawns as well.

The Countryside neighborhood is older with homes ranging in age from 15 to 25 years. The neighborhood is located in north central San Antonio and is surrounded by homes on three sides and a large creek/wash area on the other. Average lot size is ~7,950 ft² including the home. Average turf on each lot averages ~5,500 ft². The majority of shade is provided by mature trees in a range of 35 to 80%. All lawns contain an assorted mixture of St. Augustine and Bermuda grasses.

Materials and Methods

Jade Oaks Neighborhood. Fifteen of the 91 homes in the neighborhood were randomly selected as sites for biological surveys and mound counts. Four small condiment cups were baited with small pieces of canned tuna, placed in a transect across the front lawn of each site and allowed to remain for at least 30 minutes before being collected and capped. Mound counts were taken for the entire lot. Shade cover and turf type were recorded for reference. In September of 1998, homeowners selected Amdro^® Fire Ant Bait (hydramethylnon) as their management tool in conjunction with the Two-Step Method of fire ant control. A choice of 6 oz. or 1 lb. containers of Amdro^® were available for $5 and $10, respectively, in a centralized neighborhood location. One homeowner made arrangements with a local retailer to purchase cases of product for resale to the neighborhood residents. Scotts^® brand Easy™ Hand-Held spreaders were utilized to broadcast the bait over the lawns. Each homeowner was instructed to apply ~4 to 6 oz. of bait in their lawn and wait 3 to 5 days to spot-treat any nuisance mounds. Post-treatment mound counts and biological surveys were conducted at ~3 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. A survey was mailed to each homeowner soon after treatment to gather information on fire ant problems and expenditures prior to this program.

Countryside Neighborhood. Twenty-seven of the 190 homes in the neighborhood and one vacant "island" were randomly selected as sites for biological surveys and mound counts. Four small condiment cups were baited with small pieces of canned tuna, placed in a transect across the front lawn of each site and allowed to remain for at least 30 minutes before being collected and capped. Mound counts were taken for the entire lot. Shade cover and turf type were recorded for reference. In April of 1999, homeowner association board members elected to contract with a local San Antonio pest control company to perform a fire ant bait application on all front lawns in the neighborhood. The association contracted a $1200 fee with the pest control operator to broadcast ~5 oz. of PT^® 370 Ascend™ Fire Ant Stopper^® Bait (abamectin) in each front lawn with a commercial broadcast spreader. Homeowners were not directly charged for this service. Homeowners were asked to treat any new mounds individually as they appeared. Biological surveys and mound counts were conducted at 2 and 6 months post-treatment. A survey was mailed to each homeowner soon after treatment to gather information on fire ant problems and expenditures prior to this program.

Results and Discussion

Jade Oaks Neighborhood. Eighty-five of 91 possible homes participated in the September 1998 "Fire Ant Day." Reasons for non-participation are unknown. Pre- and post-treatment results of biological surveys and mound counts are displayed in Table 1. An average of 4.7 mounds per lawn were found prior to treatment and reduced to less than 1 mound per lawn at the 2-week post-treatment interval. Biological surveys prior to treatment trapped 5 species of ants including S. invicta. Post-treatment surveys captured 3 species of ants including S. invicta at the 2-week post-treatment interval and 2 native ant species (no S. invicta) at the 6-month post-treatment inspection. One-year surveys captured 5 ant species including S. invicta and a total of 3 mounds were counted in 15 survey lawns.

Countryside Neighborhood. Of 190 homes in the neighborhood, 187 participated in the April 1999 "Fire Ant Day." Participation in this effort was not 100% due to the fact that the neighborhood association did not notify residents prior to the treatment. Some residents refused to allow the bait applications in their lawns on treatment day. Pre- and post-treatment results of biological surveys and mound counts are displayed in Table 2. Pre-treatment surveys revealed 11 ant species including S. invicta and mound counts averaged 0.4 mounds per lawn in the 28 survey lawns. This in itself does not justify the broadcast application of bait insecticides for fire ants, but the association selected this method of application. The decision was made to proceed and document the results of treatment. Surveys at 2 months post-treatment trapped 13 ant species including S. invicta and mound counts averaged 0.1 per lawn in the 28 sites. Evaluations at 6 months post-treatment trapped approximately the same numbers of ant species including S. invicta but no mounds were seen in the 28 sites. This might partially have been the result of almost no rainfall in the San Antonio area from June of 1999 until evaluations in October 1999.

Treatment Costs. Potential costs of treatment by the homeowners that returned pre-treatment surveys might be reduced somewhat by these neighborhood programs. According to responses in Jade Oaks, 55.2% of respondents spent an average of $111.30 per year to control fire ants in their lawns prior to initiating this effort. By spending $5 to broadcast the Amdro^® fire ant bait, these homeowners reduced their potential treatment costs by 96% over their previous expenditures. By contrast, 82.8% of homeowners in the Countryside neighborhood spent an average of $38.33 per year on fire ant treatment strategies prior to initiating their program. When dividing the initial contract cost of $1200 over the 187 participants in Countryside, I arrive at a per homeowner cost of $6.42 for treatment. This represented an 83% reduction in potential costs compared to previous expenditures. Actual costs after the initial treatments were unknown awaiting the results of post treatment surveys. Of 91 pre-treatment surveys mailed to Jade Oaks residents, 29 were returned (31.9%); Countryside residents returned 69 of 190 surveys that were mailed (36.3%).

Conclusion

Neighborhood programs for the treatment of red imported fire ant infestations have the potential to save money and reduce the amounts of pesticides that are applied. Not only does the amount of infestation in the neighborhood determine the treatment strategy, but it appears that the age and ecological structure of the neighborhood may also play a role in the success or failure of fire ant colonization efforts. Ecological stability, shade cover and lack of construction in older neighborhoods may play a role in the establishment of healthy native ant populations that, in turn, act to suppress and deter fire ant colonization efforts. On the other hand, newly constructed neighborhoods with ongoing construction, immature shade trees and newly sodded lawns provide the perfect elements for potentially dense fire ant populations: disturbance, ample sunlight, regular turf irrigation (moisture) and low native ant populations. With all of these things in mind, landscape and pest control professionals, extension personnel and others can provide guidance for homeowners regarding effective and efficient IPM programs to reduce the populations of red imported fire ants in their lawns and neighborhoods.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Mardell Murrow and Billy Lawton of the Jade Oaks neighborhood and Greg Asvestas of the Countryside neighborhood for their leadership in organizing local efforts in their areas. Thanks also goes to Bret Royal of American Cyanamid and Mark Krebs of Centex Hometeam™ Services for providing their services to these areas. A final word of thanks goes to Dr. Scott Cummings, Assistant Professor and Extension Program Accountability Specialist for analyzing the survey data from these neighborhoods and Dr. Charles Barr, Extension Program Specialist - Fire Ant Project, for his technical and tactical assistance with these programs.

Lard, Curtis F., Charles Hall, and Victoria Salin. "Economic Impact of the Red Imported Fire Ant on the Homescape, Landscape, and the Urbanscape of Selected Metroplexes of Texas," final report to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan, Fire Ant Economic Research Rpt. #99-08, Aug. 1999.

Table 1. Results of Pre and Post Treatment^† Biological Surveys and Fire Ant Mound Counts in the Jade Oaks Neighborhood, San Antonio, Texas, 1998 - 1999.

^† Initial treatment occurred on September 19, 1999.

Table 2. Biological Survey Results and Fire Ant Mound Counts Prior to and after Treatment Occurred On April 24, 1999 in the Countryside Neighborhood, San Antonio, Texas, 1999.

Community-Wide Fire Ant Management in Dallas and Tarrant Counties, Texas: An Overview

Scott A. Russell, Extension Agent - I. P. M.: Fire Ants
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Dallas and Tarrant Counties

Introduction

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren) is the primary pest for which residents purchase pesticides. This pest creates problems not only when they sting people but also when they build unsightly mounds in lawns, gardens or electrical devices. Residents can be more effective at controlling fire ants and spend less money doing so if they work together to organize a community-wide fire ant management program. The Lakeview Country Estates Owners Association, (Mansfield, Tarrant County, Texas) is one example of such community-wide efforts. The Lakeview Owners Association is very active, hosting numerous neighborhood activities. These activities are often interrupted by fire ant stings

In an initial survey 93.8 percent of respondents reported fire ants present in their lawns. Fifty percent reported fire ants to be a moderate problem and an additional 37.5 percent reported these pest to be a minor problem. Nearly sixty-three (62.5) percent spent money on fire ants and 37.5 percent treated at least once per month.

The objective of this project was to establish a community-wide fire ant management program, teaching residents better methods to control fire ants and thus reduce the economic impact fire ants have on the neighborhood as well as documenting the biological impact of community-wide fire ant management.

Materials and Methods

Leaders in the association obtained written commitments from 52 of the 54 residents. This commitment involves the local residents agreeing to work with Texas Agricultural Extension Service (TAEX) for a period of two years as a research project. The Extension Service provided educational training, biological assessment, planning and guidance in organizing the community-wide treatment effort. The local community then provided data by responding to survey documents prepared by TAEX and assisting in biological assessments. An educational meeting was arranged to provide information to the residents and answer questions. "This meeting was the best attended meeting of the association in years", commented Mrs. Lesa Spangler, former association president.

Biological assessment of the ant populations was documented on June 12, 1999. Nine residents assisted with counting ant mounds if front lawns and collecting ant specimens for identification. Fifteen front lawns were inspected, average size was slightly less then 1/4 acre (9345.8 square feet). These lawns averaged 2.87 mounds each and a total of six species of "desirable" ants were collected. These "desirable" ants represent native or exotic species which may be good competitors of fire ants and their populations are worth preserving as a deterrent for fire ants.

Selected treatments were applied on July 10, 1999. Three different treatments were available to residents. Forty-two residents chose to broadcast Amdro® Fire Ant Bait (hydramethylnon) at the standard rate of 1 to 1.5 pounds per acre. Seven residents, who found few fire ant mounds present in their lawns, chose to treat individual ant mounds using Orthene® Turf Tree and Ornamental Insecticide (acephate). Treatments were completed by most residents by 11:00 A.M., later that afternoon there was a thunderstorm. Residents reported between one and one and a half inches of rainfall.

Ant populations were assessed again on September 14, 1999, after allowing sufficient time for the Amdro® to impact the ant colonies. At this time the same fifteen front lawns were surveyed for visible fire ant mounds and collections of ant specimens made. Lawns now averaged 2.0 mounds per lawn with desirable ants still present. The decision to apply a second treatment was made and this occurred on October 23, 1999. Thirty-one lawns were treated with Amdro® at that time. Biological assessment will be conducted again in the Spring of 2000.

Results and Discussion

Even after raining the same day that treatment was made using Amdro® Fire Ant Bait, the average number of fire mounds per front lawn was somewhat reduced. Participants also completed a post-treatment survey to assess resident perceptions. Fifty-six percent of the respondents reported an increase in knowledge of fire ant control and 94 percent rated the project as very valuable to extremely valuable. Seventy-eight percent of respondents reported fewer ants and an additional 78 percent reported fewer ant related problems.

In the Lakeview Country Estates Fire Ant Management project 83 percent of the respondents reported saving money. Fifty-six percent stated they would change their fire ant treatment methods and 100 percent reported that a community-wide fire ant treatment project is worth the time and effort.

Conclusions

Community-wide fire ant treatment, based on sound biological data, can reduce fire ant numbers, reduce cost to residents and reduce pesticide usage. This is an on-going project and will continue through the spring 2001 and will provide additional data during this time period. Additional community-wide treatment projects are underway and will provide added data.

Acknowledgments: Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Tarrant County gratefully thanks Mr. Bret Royal of the American Cyanamid Corporation for providing the Amdro® Fire Ant Bait for this project and to Pam Knoepfli of Valent Corporation for providing Orthene® TT&O for this project. Extension Agent Scott A. Russell also thanks Mrs. Lesa Spangler and the residents of Lakeview Country Estates for their work in organizing and implementing this community-wide fire ant management project. The author also wishes to acknowledge assistance from Extension Program Specialist, Dr. Charles Barr, TAEX, for technical guidance.