Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 12:18:22 -0400
From: Al Cooke
Subject: Fire Ants
Fire Ants
People seem to have begun noticing fire ant mounds. I’m aware of two reasons why you may be seeing new mounds now and may continue to see new mounds for a while:
1) Fire ant queens mate in the air during spring and land somewhere to start a new mound. It takes about 6 months for the queen to build up sufficient numbers of workers for that mound to be easily visible. So new fire ant mounds are likely to show up from late summer to late fall.
2) And ants in general tend to clean out their nests after a heavy rain. So we notice a lot of mounds (all ants, not just fire ants) just because there is fresh soil at the surface.
It’s also interesting to note that some researchers have noticed that most of the newly mated fire ant queens are not successful in actually establishing a mound. That’s because native ants defend their territory from invaders. So all those other ants out there are actually your allies; think carefully before taking any action to get rid of them.
Likewise think carefully about how you decide to deal with fire ants and the potential for collateral damage to native ants. I recently took opportunity to see what was on the shelves (or sales floor) of one of our local chain outlets. One product I noticed suggested that by broadcasting the product over the lawn, you would not only control existing fire ant mounds but also prevent new mounds being established for several months. That’s probably an accurate claim and sounds good unless you wonder what it will do to the native ant populations.
If the product also controls native ants, as seems likely, and if fire ant queens mate in the air and land where the wind blows, which is more likely to show up after the insecticide is no longer effective? My suspicion is that the product will actually have to be used again and again because it’s likely to remove natural controls for fire ants. And research bears this out: the more thorough your control, the more control you are likely to need.
My preference is to treat individual mounds rather than an entire area. And to treat only mounds that are in places where they are likely to have an impact on human interests. We are not likely to eliminate fire ants, so we learn to live with them. While many people want me to tell them what product to use, it is still true that the strategy is more important than the product selection. Used appropriately, the products provide similar results..
I have a website at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/homehort/fireants.html that covers basic strategies for fire ant control. But you also need to make sure the products you select are consistent with the strategy you select. Take time to select carefully. Read the label to determine how the product is used and if that use seems appropriate to your situation. Most are not suitable for use in vegetables or pastures.
Most of the products contain very small amounts of active ingredient. That makes them less likely hazards for you, your families, and your pets. Just pay attention to what you’re doing. It’s not an emergency; you have time to make intelligent choices.
alcooke
Al Cooke
Extension Agent, Horticulture
Chatham County Center
N.C. Cooperative Extension
919.542-8202; Fax 919.542.8246
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/staff/acooke/home.html
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