II. b. Red Imported Fire Ant Management

2. II. b. Red Imported Fire AntManagement Teaching Module for Advanced Master Gardener Training

3. Why is the RIFA so tough to manage? • Colonies move easily • Omnivorous • Life cycle ensures survivability • High reproductive potential • Large number of colonies • Invasive species with little competition • Biological traits such as hybridization and multiple queen colonies

4. An Example of Re-infestation by RIFA • Test site: 15 to 80+ mounds per acre • Applied insecticide eliminated 100% of colonies • 6-8 weeks later: tiny new nests noted • 6 months later: 2 to 5-inch diameter mounds; possibly 400 mounds per acre • 1 year: 4 to 6-inch diameter mounds;possibly 120 mounds per acre • 2 - 5 years: large mounds; 15 to 80+ per acre • (These were single queen type colonies)

5. Fire Ant Movement and Spread • Mating flights • Mound disturbance • Human transport • Soil, nursery stock • Turfgrass • Hay • Vehicles

7. Scope of Fire Ant Problems • Now infest over 330 M acres in U.S. and Puerto Rico • Estimated overall cost of fire ant infestation across the U.S. - over a billion dollars annually • Principal areas of expansion in the southeastern U.S. include TN, NC, VA and MD • Principal areas of expansion in the southwestern U.S. include OK, AR, TX, NM, AZ and CA

8. Impact of Imported Fire Ants • Human health • Agriculture and livestock • Nursery and landscape industry • Wildlife • Biodiversity • Utilities • Recreation and tourism • Transportation (roadways) • Environmental quality

14. Managing the Red Imported Fire Ant(RIFA)

15. RIFA MANAGMENT • More than 150 products are labeled for fire ant control • Most give good control when properly used • None control fire ants for very long • Multiple strategies work best

16. Integrated Pest Management • Emphasizes: • Use of a variety of tactics • Judicious use of pesticides • Managing populations below levels that cause problems • Advocated for management of fire ant problems IPM – Effective, economical, ecologically sound

17. RIFA Management Tactics • Sanitation • Keep shrubs away from buildings – forms a bridge • Keep trash bins clean – oils attract them • Physical and Mechanical • Hot water, barriers • Chemicals • Registered pesticides • Follow label directions!

18. Home Remedies • Grits – Do not work! • Workers don’t eat solid food • Mixing mounds – Too dangerous! • And does not work • Gasoline – Don’t do it! • Dangerous, serious pollutant, kills plants, makes fire ant colonies move • Bleaches, cleaning solutions, etc.- Don’t do it! • Dangerous, serious pollutants, kills plants

19. RIFA Chemical Management Today • Broadcast baits and granular materials • Insecticides and insect growth regulators • Insecticide dusts and liquids • Individual mound treatments • Insecticide granules, dusts and liquids • Barrier treatments around structures • Combination of broadcast baits and individual mound treatments

20. How They Work • General Insecticides • Kills workers and queens • Can be slow or fast acting • Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) • Mimic insect hormones • Prevents queen from laying fertile eggs • Workers do not die from ingestion • Workers die from old age • Very slow acting

21. Bait Materials Insecticides and Insect Growth Regulators

22. Bait Materials • Chemical is dissolved in an attractant (oil) • Insecticide or insect growth regulator (IGR) • Absorbed into granules • Ants forage and return it to colony • Ants feed by sucking oil from granules • They transfer chemical to other ants by trophallaxis

23. The “Stomach” of the Colony

24. Chemical Action • General insecticide-based baits - Kill the ants • Indoxacarb (Spectracide Fire Ant Killer, Advion, Over 'n Out Fire Ant Killer Mound Treatment) • Hydramethylnon (Amdro Fire Ant Bait, Probait, Max Force) • Spinosad OMRI (Come-and-Get It, Green Light Fire Ant Control with Conserve) • Fipronil (Ceasefire Fire Ant Bait) • Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) and similar compounds - Prevent the queen from laying viable eggs • S-methoprene (Extinguish) • Pyriproxifen (Distance) • Abamectin (Varsity, Ascend) – technically not an IGR • Fenoxycarb (Award) • Mixtures – insecticide + IGR (Extinguish Plus) • Best effect when workers killed slowly or not at all - time to get the material to the queen

25. General Insecticide Baits Hydramethylnon Indoxacarb Spinosad “organic”

26. Insect Growth Regulator Baits Abamectin – Not an IGR Methoprene Pyriproxyfen Fenoxycarb

27. Mixtures – Insecticide + IGR • Relatively new product • Methoprene and hydramethylnon blend • Quick kill • Residual-like effect • Less ants in 6 months

28. Advantages of Baits • Attractive to pest • Corn cob + soil bean oil + pesticide • Controls unseen colonies • Economical • Can be broadcast or spot Treated • Easy to apply • Relatively safe (least toxic) • used in small amounts

29. Disadvantages of Baits • Little to no residual • Can be easily ruined • Heat, water, sunlight • Most are slow acting • At least 2-4 weeks for control* • Growth regulator baits may be difficult to find • Bait selection can be confusing *baits containing indoxacarb control fire ants in 1-3 days

30. Proper Use of Baits • Apply when workers are foraging • Sunny days • Early or late in day • Most active 75o to 85o F • Use fresh baits • Apply when ground is dry and no rain is expected

31. Proper Use of Baits • DO NOT mix baits with other materials • AVOID applying to mound surface • DO NOT disturb mound prior to application • DO FOLLOW the label • DO USE the lowest setting on spreader

32. Application Methods • Individual mound treatments • Hand held seeders • Vehicle mounted seeders

33. Contact Insecticides Granular, Dust, & Liquid

34. Contact Insecticides • Kill on contact • Granular products • Dusts • Mound drenches • Follow label directions

35. Acephate Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer IMT* Bifenthrin Ortho MAX Fire Ant Killer Broadcast Granules Talstar Broadcast & IMT Carbaryl Sevin Bug Killer Concentrate IMT Cyfluthrin Bayer Advanced Lawn Fire Ant Killer IMT Deltamethrin Bengal Ultra Dust 2X Fire Ant Killer Hi-Yield Imported Fire Ant Control Granules IMT Some Contact Insecticides for RIFA *Individual Mound Treatment

36. Fipronil Over 'n Out Fire Ant Killer Granules Chipco Topchoice Broadcast Lambda-cyhalothrin Spectricide Fire Ant Killer Granules IMT & Broadcast Natural pyrethrins and diatomaceous earth Organic One Fire Ant Killer IMT Permethrin Terro Outdoor Ant Killer Hi-Yield Indoor Outdoor Broad Use Insecticide 17 others IMT *Spinosad Fertilome Borer, Bagworm, Leaf Miner, and Tent Caterpillar Spray IMT & *OMRI Some Contact Insecticides for RIFA

37. Fipronil Insecticide Granules Bifenthrin Lamda-cyhalothrin

38. Insecticide Dusts, Wettable Powders and Liquids Dusts and Wettable Powders Liquids / Mound Drenches

39. Advantages of Contact Insecticides • Granules broadcast like baits • Fast and effective • May be short term • Barrier-like protection • Residual effects in some • For broadcast and spot treatment • Mound treatments • Cost effective • Less harmful to non-targets

40. Disadvantages of Contact Insecticides • May not reach queen • Workers killed on contact • More expensive to treat large areas • Broadcast treatments • Toxicity much higher than baits • Less target-specific • More risk to non-targets • Rapid re-infestation more likely • Environmental contamination if not properly applied

41. Applying Chemicals to Your Home or Yard? ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS!!!

42. Tactics for Best Management Combination Treatments

43. Different Approaches to Different Situations • Two-step Method • Three-step Method • Long Residual Broadcast Treatment • Management in Public Areas • Homes and Buildings • Vegetable Gardens • Neighborhood Management

44. Two-Step Method Treating Lawns • For moderate to large areas of turf • Not recommended for lightly infested areas • Goal: Reduce fire ant problems while minimizing need to treat individual mounds • Step 1- Broadcast bait product in spring and/or fall • Step 2- Treat nuisance mounds as necessary; start scouting 3 days after bait treatment

45. Individual Mound Treatments Only • Best for small areas of where infestations are light • NOT recommended for heavily infested areas • Selectively controls fire ants • Requires more labor and monitoring • Individually treat undesirable ant mounds using a suitable contact or bait product • Continue to treat unwanted mounds as they appear

46. Three-Step Method Treating Structures Step 1: Barrier Treatment • Apply band of granular or liquid insecticide to perimeter of structure Step 2: Broadcast Bait Treatment • Broadcast bait to lawns surrounding structure outside the perimeter barrier Step 3: Individual Mound Treatment • Wait 3 days to allow for bait to be distributed • Drench or Dust - nuisance or hazardous colonies

47. Long Residual Broadcast Treatment • Long-lasting, but more expensive • Broadcast a residual product • Fipronil - 1 application per year • Bifenthrin - 2-3 applications per year • Expensive - $180 to $500 per acre per year • Fipronil takes longer to control ants • 80% control in four weeks • Maximum control by 6 weeks

48. Management in Public Areas • Athletic fields, parks, golf courses, camping sites, etc. • Map fire ant infestations • High priority areas • Broadcast bait products (frequently used or sources of re-infestation) • IMT • After 3-5 days treat problem mounds in highest priority areas with fast-acting insecticide • Low priority areas • Perimeter treatments or no treatment may be sufficient • Perimeter treatment • May also be necessary if re-infestation occurs quickly • Very flexible method now being used by commercial landscape managers

49. Homes and Buildings • Prevention is key • If fire ants are found indoors, remove children and pets from immediate area • Find and remove ant food source

50. Homes and Buildings • Find where ants are entering • Spray entry point with an indoor ant control product • Avoid spraying near food or eating utensils • Treat indoor trail with soap, bleach or ammonia cleaner (Windex) • Disrupts pheromone trail • DO NOT bait inside