Managing Fire Ants in Urban Areas

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Estimated Future and Current Range of Red
Imported Fire Ants
Too Cold In Winter!!! (15ºF)
1920
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Homestead
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Fire AntsGood?!?
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Fire Ant Control Strategies

• Two-Step Method (Twice per Year)
• Heavy Infestations ? 20 or more mounds per acre
• Broadcast Bait Only (1 - 1½ pounds per acre)
• Individual Mound (Spot) Treatments
• Light Infestations ? Up to 20 mounds per acre
• No Ant Method (?)
• For situations where NO ants are allowed ?
  Allergic persons, golf courses, special
  gatherings

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Tips for Applying Fire Ant Bait Insecticides

• BAIT MUST BE FRESH!
• Temperature must be between 70ºF and 95ºF.
• Grass must be dry (Soil can be moist)
• No rain expected for 12-24 hours after
  application
• Do Not mix bait with fertilizer or use push-type
  spreaders
• DO NOT DISTURB THE MOUND!

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Organic and Non-Chemical Alternatives

• Organic Options
• Pyrethrins Plus Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
• DE alone (Horticultural Type Only)
• Citrus Oil Solutions, Rotenone, and Others
• Physical and Mechanical Options
• Hot/Boiling Water (60 kill on FRESH Mounds Only)
• Shoveling (Use talcum powder on handle)
• Shade (Fire ants wont live in the shade)

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Product Safety Information

• Product
• Ascend Fire Ant Bait
• Logic/Award
• AMDRO/Combat
• 0.5 Dursban
• 5 diazinon
• Sevin dust
• Orthene dust

• LD50
• 409 lbs.
• 252 lbs.
• 103 lbs.
• 8 lbs.
• 4 lbs.
• 1 lb.
• 4.8 OZ!

• Birds/Mammals
• - / -
• /
• - / -
• - / -
• -- / --
• / -
• -- / -- ( Fish)

These numbers are estimated for a 150 lb human
- LD50 is the dose needed to kill 50 of a test
population
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Fire Ant Management Alternatives

• Biological Control Options?
• Preserve Desirable Ants
• Natural Enemies from South America

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Fire Ant Project Website
http//fireant.tamu.edu
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purposes only. Reference to commercial products
or trade names is made with the understanding
that no discrimination is intended and no
endorsement by the Texas Agricultural Extension
Service or the Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station is implied. Educational programs
conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension
Service serve people of all ages, regardless of
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