Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan
Texas Cooperative Extension - Bexar County

Method Demonstration Case Study:

Northchase Neighborhood Association, San Antonio, TX.

1998-1999

The Neighborhood and It's Residents

The Northchase neighborhood is located in western San Antonio off of Tezel Road approximately halfway between New Guilbeau Road on the north and Grissolm Road on the south. It is composed of 1039 homes inhabited by either homeowners or tenants. The inhabitants of the neighborhood are middle-income earners of a diverse ethnic background. Lot sizes average ~7,000 - 10,000 square feet including the home. Homes appear to be 10 - 30 years in age. Most lots contain mature oak, ash, and hackberry trees and have St. Augustine or bermuda grass lawns. Based on a community-wide survey developed by the Extension Service, homeowners replied that they spent anywhere from $1 - $100 per year on fire ant treatment chemicals and such. From this same survey, fire ant infestations were determined to average 4 - 6 mounds per yard. Because this program is considered an "autopilot" or association-driven program, biological surveys and fire ant mound counts were not done prior to treatment.

Organizing the Program

August 29, 1998 was selected as the neighborhood "Fire Ant Day." Organizers of the program selected the neighborhood swimming pool areas as the central gathering point and selected 10 volunteers to broadcast bait in the lawns of consenting homeowners who were either unable or out of town. Neighborhood leaders contacted leaders on the Oxbow Neighborhood Association for information on the Oxbow Fire Ant Day and received a donation of 25 lbs of PT^® 370 Ascend™ Fire Ant Stopper^® Bait from Oxbow as their fire ant management tool. The 2-Step Method was selected as the application strategy and applications were calculated based upon lot size in acres using a 1 lb/acre rate for the bait. Homeowners interested in participating came to the swimming pool area and received ~1/4 lb of fire ant bait, a hand seeder to apply the bait, if necessary, and a pesticide label for the bait product. Hand-operated crank seeders were loaned to the Northchase group from a local garden supply business.

Results

Once the day (and weekend) had ended, it was determined that ~75 homes had participated in the "Fire Ant Day." Participants commented that the speed and ease of broadcasting fire ant bait was "easier than expected, " although some homeowners complained that they did not receive enough bait for their lawns. It was determined that the hand seeders applied too much material when set on their smallest opening. A different model of hand seeder would be selected for any future fire ant programs.

Phone interviews a year later with a few residents revealed an overall good reaction to the program. Residents felt satisfied with the reductions in fire ant mounds that occurred and that "it was easy to treat the occasional mound that popped up" after the treatment. Homeowners whose lots were bordered by undeveloped land commented that they still had problems with fire ants "moving in" from outside their back fences.

Programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service do not discriminate based upon race, gender, sex, national origin, or socio-economic background.