How to Treat Red Imported Fire Ants

1
Red Imported Fire Ants

• Solenopsis invicta

2
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Nest site/characteristics
• Generally found in warmer climates
• Very aggressive when threatened
• Can cause serious problems
• Agricultural
• Medical
• Structural

3
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Nest site/characteristics
• Nests are easy to spot (found in sunny, exposed
  areas)
• Mounds range from a couple inches to several feet
  across
• Colonies are known to link to form
  super-colonies
• Forage in established trails

4
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Nest site/characteristics
• Nest in areas of exposed soil
• Nests may be found
• Adjacent to walls/slabs
• In electrical junction boxes/air conditioners
• Gas and water meter boxes

5
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Feeding preferences
• RIFA are omnivorous, so they will feed on a wide
  variety of animal and plant matter.

6
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Control
• One year control achievable with broadcast
  treatment with TopChoice
• Early season (November-February) application is
  recommended
• In-season mounds can be combo-treated with
  TopChoice and Maxforce Fire Ant Killer Granular
  Bait or Maxforce Granular Insect Bait

7
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Steps to Control
• Use a long injection probe to apply Tempo or
  Suspend under high pressure directly into mounds.
• Apply Maxforce Granular Insect Bait around the
  mound
• Place Maxforce Ant Killer Bait Stations at high
  traffic areas indoors and outdoors

8
Red Imported Fire Ant

• Identification of Red Imported Fire Ant
• Stinger present painful stings (red-itchy bump
  will become present at point of sting)
• Reddish brown with darker abdomen
• 10-segmented antennae 2-segmented club
• Two node segments
• Uneven thorax, no spines, many hairs on entire
  body
• Polymorphic workers, 1/16 1/4 inch (2-7mm) long