Silencing the sting
1 Mar, 2009 By: Marty Whitford Landscape ManagementAbout 20 Million people — 40% of those in infested areas — feel the nasty sting of fire ants every year. Arriving in the United States in the 1930s, fire ants reportedly occupy more than 300 million acres, or a landmass nearly twice the size of Texas, and cause $6 billion in damage annually nationwide.
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It's time to silence the sting of fire ants. That's why we've partnered with major chemical manufacturers this month — to provide a snapshot of leading-edge pesticide tools and offer application tips to help lawn care operators (LCOs) extinguish these pests.
A targeted approach
Lee Bloomcamp, a Syngenta Professional Products' territory manager in Florida, says an added "plus" for Award fire ant bait with the active ingredient (AI) fenoxycarb is that it's designed to not kill non-target pests.
"If native ant populations are disrupted, the rapidly reproducing fire ants can quickly gain the upper hand by their sheer numbers and fierceness — and that's the last thing LCOs and their customers want," Bloomcamp adds.
Long-term fire ant control typically takes about two to three months for total mound collapse, says Bloomcamp, noting LCOs can use Syngenta's Scimitar CS contact insecticide directly on mounds for immediate individual treatments.
"We guarantee at least 90% control of fire ants after two Award applications, typically done in the spring and fall. In extreme cases in South Texas and Florida, we recommend three Award applications," she says.
When broadcasting fire ant bait, LCOs should use different spreaders than they use for fertilizers. Otherwise, the fire ant bait's AI carrier might absorb salts from the fertilizer and decrease acceptance of the bait. For a limited time, LCOs can earn a complimentary new Herd spreader when purchasing 300 lbs. of Award.
www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com
Technology advancements
Dr. Kathie Kalmowitz, technical specialist, BASF Turf & Ornamentals, says baits are still the most cost-effective solution to deliver the most-consistent control. Better still, she adds, is when LCOs deliver topical applications of a liquid insecticide with the AI bifenthrin to visible mounds, followed by a broadcast lawn application with a fire ant bait containing an insect growth regulator (IGR).
BASF's Amdro Pro eliminates the fire ant queen and her colony within seven days of a mound treatment, and rids the entire area of fire ants within two weeks of a broadcast application, Kalmowitz says. Its AI, hydramethalon, is an electron transport inhibitor that eliminates the pests' energy sources.
Drench the drama
LCOs can apply diluted (0.1 fluid oz./gal.) of Dow AgroScience's Conserve SC (AI: spinosad) to individual fire ant mounds as a drench application. For mounds 8 in. in diameter or smaller, LCOs should use 1 gal. of dilution; larger mounds should be treated with 2 gals. of the solution.
 Fire ant tunnels can extend 100 feet from mounds, but broadcast bait helps provide blanket control for susceptible areas such as sports fields. |
Mark Urbanowski, Dow AgroScience's senior marketing specialist for turf, ornamental and technical products, warns LCOs to not disturb fire ant mounds prior to applications. Pressurized sprays should not be used, as they might disturb the ants and cause migration, reducing control. For best results, the sprayable suspension concentrate, which works on contact as well as through ingestion by the pests, should be applied in cool weather (65°F to 85°F).
www.dowagro.com/turf/prod/conserve.htm
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