Principal Investigators:
Awinash P. Bhatkar
Texas Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 12847
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: 512/463-5025; Fax: 512/463-8225
Email:abhatkar@agr.state.tx.us

Funding Amount: $90,710

Relevance/Implication of Project:
As an integral part of the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan, theTexas Department of Agriculture will play a central role in preventing the artificial spread of this pest into non-infested areas through regulatory and quarantine actions. TDA is currently involved in a number of regulatory activities to help control the spread of the red imported fire ant, such as annual surveys, distribution of quarantine maps,establishment of quarantine areas, one-time treatment of extant populations andcertification of products and locations free of red imported fire ant infestation.

Summary of Work Performed:
I. TDA conducted public awareness meetings with hay producers, cattlemen, beekeepers, greenhouse growers and nurserymen in Comanche, Eastland, Harris, Bexar and Brazos counties, and will continue to conduct educational meetings to enhance the knowledge of the regulated community on requirements of state and federal fire ant quarantines.

II. TDA inspectors perform a one-time spot treatment on minor extant imported fire ant populations detected in non-quarantined counties. Landowners, county agents and county commissioners in Brewster, El Paso, Coleman, Howard, Lubbock Menard, Runnels, Shackleford and Sutton counties were contacted for the treatment of infestations detected during prior year's surveys. Follow up surveys are conducted to observe the containment and reduction of infestations.

III. The number of compliance inspections were doubled on regulated businesses that must comply with the federal fire ant quarantine. About 145 nurseries are currently under compliance with TDA.

IV. Additional 25,000 quarantine maps were printed to disseminate information to the public regarding the extent of the IFA's infestation in Texas. No new counties were added to the map. Similar number will be printed for distribution to the public, growers and industry personnel. Updated quarantine map is made available at http://www.agr.state.tx.us.

V. TDA assists other participants in the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan with survey activities.