Advantages:
- Low toxicity
- Environmentally friendly
- Attractive to many ant species
Disadvantages:
- Very slow to work
- Limited availability
Active Ingredient: 0.011% abamectin
Similar Products: other slow-acting products (Extinguish®, Esteem®, Distance® etc.)
Application Rate, Broadcast: 1 lb. per acre
Speed of Control: slow, 2 – 4 months (may be faster than Extinguish® or Award®)
Duration of Control: one application per year is usually sufficient, though dependent on reinvasion pressure
Approximate product cost: Advance® – $35.00/lb., Ascend® – $10/lb. (25 lb. bag)
Best used for: Professional application to commercial properties
Best season for application: spring and summer, fall application may not fully control ants until the following spring
Sources: professional pest control suppliers
Toxicity: very low
Agricultural Uses: none
Mixing with other products: none labeled, not recommended
Comments: Ascend® is formulated on a corn grit carrier similar to other baits. Advance® is formulated on another carrier that may be more acceptable to other ant species, as well as fire ants. These products are marketed to professional pest control operators. The active ingredient abamectin has been shown to cause a halt in fire ant egg production.
Manufacturer: BASF
Web site (including label and MSDS):
http://pestcontrol.basf.us/products/ascend-fire-ant bait.html http://pestcontrol.basf.us/products/advance-granular-ant-bait.html
DISCLAIMER
This site is intended to cover only broadcast-applied fire ant control products and slow acting fipronil containing granular products. Literally dozens of products are available as individual mound treatments. Contact your local Extension Agent or return to https://fireant.tamu.edu for more information on individual mound treatments.
Because of the constantly changing availability of fire ant insecticides, it is virtually impossible to include every product on the market. Mention of a product on this site does not imply an endorsement by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Southern Region IPM Center or any cooperating state. Lack of mention does not imply that the product is not an effective fire ant control product.
