Fall is the Perfect Time To Battle Fire Ants
Nathan Riggs, EA-IPM - Texas Cooperative Extension, Bexar County (August 2001)
Fall is just around the corner in South Texas and that only means one thing...nicer weather!!! However, nicer weather also brings those pesky fire ants back to the surface after being underground all summer. When the fire ants return, so do all of those burning stings, damaged electrical equipment and decisions about how to control them. For the average rural homeowner, fire ant control products are a dime-a-dozen. However, there are a few that provide fire ant control in areas where pesticide use is as sensitive as your skin after a fire ant attack.
Fall (September, October and November) is the best time to treat fire ants because they generally slow down during the winter. Texas Cooperative Extension urges homeowners to use bait insecticides against fire ants in the fall because baits can be broadcasted and left to serve their purpose. In the fall, faster-acting baits produce better results because they begin to act before cool weather arrives. All fire ant baits are formulated with corn and oil-the oil being the attractant for the ants. They suck the oil (which contains the active ingredient) from the corn and pass it along to the other ants in the colony, including the queens.
When considering which bait to use, one must consider the site on which it will be applied. If you are treating an area where food animals (cows, sheep, goats) are grazing, then Amdro Pro or Siege Pro fire ant bait are the only fast-acting bait options available. Each of these may also be applied around horses, but not allowed around chickens or other fowl. Amdro Pro begins to work within 7 to 10 days when broadcasted at the rate of 1 lb/acre or 3 to 6 days if used as a mound treatment. Justice fire ant bait begins to work in as little as two days when applied to individual mounds. Justice is not recommended as a broadcast-applied bait. Logic hormonal fire ant bait has long been a familiar fire ant remedy in the war on fire ants. However, using Logic in the fall will not bring desirable results until March or April of the following year. Having said that, Logic is still a good option for spring use. It is approved for use around homesteads and in horse pastures ONLY. This is due to the fact that horses are not considered food animals in the U.S. Hormonal fire ant baits act on the fire ant queen's reproductive system, preventing the production of fertile eggs, and also help prevent the development of ant larvae to the adult stage. The same broadcast rates apply with Logic (1lb/acre) but complete coverage is not necessary as with Amdro. Extinguish is another bait option for the spring. It is another slow-acting hormonal bait with activity similar to Logic. Extinguish may be applied to cropland (including vegetable gardens), grazed areas, and rangeland either as a broadcast (1lb/acre) or mound treatment. All broadcast bait applications cost $12 to $15 per acre including labor. Baiting individual mounds increases costs to about $100 per acre in heavy infestations.
In urban situations, Amdro, Combat, and Eliminator fire ant baits are good fire ant treatments for the fall. Extinguish and
Spectracide hormonal fire ant baits are good tools for spring application. All of these baits are available at local retail
outlets, garden centers and feed stores.
Now I know you're thinking "How do I broadcast such small amounts?" Around the homestead, this is accomplished
with a crank-type handseeder (not Ortho) like Scotts or EZ by Republic, set on 1 or 2. In larger situations, the Herd GT-77A or GT-77L seeder is specially designed for broadcasting fire ant baits. It can be mounted on any vehicle and runs on
a 12-volt battery. Cost: about $300. Before treating large areas, ask yourself this question, "Am I losing more than it
would cost to treat?" If so, a treatment may be justified. Otherwise the decision will be on a case-by-case basis.
For more information call Nathan Riggs at the Bexar County Extension Office at (210) 467-6575. Otherwise, enjoy your
fall and pray for cool weather!