By Eileen Coite
County Extension Director, Sampson County
Unfortunately, fire ants have found a home in most of our
southeastern pastures. With the mild
temperatures of spring and recent rains, they will be mounding up, so to speak,
in the weeks to come. There are so many
ways fire ants cause us problems, from damage to equipment, reduction in forage
production, and of course possible pain and injury. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to
the fire ant problem. Management of
these pests depends on the concentration of the mounds and locations. Of the products labeled for use in pastures,
some are chemicals that treat the mound and will kill the ants, while others
are insect growth regulators that can be broadcast across a pasture and will
focus on making the queen of the colony sterile, eventually removing the
colony.
What products can be used?
Amdro Pro (hydramethylnon), Extinguish (methoprene), Extinguish Plus (methoprene+hydramethylnon),
Esteem (pyriproxyfen), Award (fenoxycarb) Logic (fenoxycarb), Sevin 80WSP, XLR Plus,
and SL (carbaryl). Some of these
products are recommended for mound treatment, some for broadcast, some
both. Sevin is sprecifically used as a
drench treatment. Some of the products
are insect growth regulators (IGRs) that will cause the queen to become
sterile, causing reproduction to cease and thus controlling the colony. IGRs
are methoprene, pyriproxyfen and fenoxycarb.
Timing and proper product application is the key to treating
for fire ants. The best time to treat is mid-spring and fall, and mid-morning
when air temperatures are around 70 degrees F.
It is also important to NOT treat if the ground is wet, or if rain is
expected within the next 36 hours. Once
the bait gets wet, the ants won’t be interested in taking it into the
mound. It is also recommended to check for
ant activity or “foraging” by placing potato chips or cheese puffs on the
ground near the mound. If ants appear on
the snacks within 30 minutes, then the colony is active and foraging.
Some other key tips to remember:
- Do
not store products past the expiration date.
They will lose attractiveness to the ants and become ineffective.
- Do
not store near other pesticides or fuels.
They may absorb odors and affect taste for the ants, becoming
ineffective.
- Do
not apply directly on mounds. Ants do
not travel on the top of the mound.
- Do
not disturb the mound when treating.
This will upset the ants and disrupt their normal foraging behavior.
- Do
not re-apply baits within ten days of applying a direct poison, as there will
be no ant activity during this time.
- Always
apply and re-apply when needed, as suggested on the label.
For more information or a
copy of fire ant management extension publications, contact your county
Cooperative Extension Center, or visit the following article: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/red-imported-fire-ant-in-north-carolina
The use of brand names and any mention
or listing of commercial products or services in this article does not imply
endorsement by North Carolina State University nor discrimination against
similar products or services not mentioned.
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