PHILADELPHA — Last year, fire ants posed a threat to students across the southern U.S., but it was school administrators who felt the heat most. From upset parents to canceled football games, fire ants proved to be more than just a nuisance.  

This year, schools take a proactive approach to fire ant control by using the new tools offered free on Fireants101.com. On the site, find guidance on:

•    Assessing risk. What areas of your school pose the most threat of fire ant stings? Use the Fireants101 Risk Assessment Tool, developed by leading fire ant experts, to prioritize treatment areas, and help determine which products to apply. In high-risk areas where young children play, a fast-acting granular insecticide like Talstar® XTRA from FMC is preferred over slower products that take days or weeks to work.

•    Determining thresholds. Learn how to create a Fire Ant Threshold Guide specific to your school. Action thresholds determine when pests reach levels that justify treatment, so pesticides are applied as part of a program approach, not on a reactive case-by-case basis.

•    Creating a plan. Learn about application methods (broadcast, mound and perimeter), label and reentry restrictions, state and local regulations and new products to create your school's Fire Ant Action Plan.

•    Sharing information. Share Fire Ant Identification Tips with teachers, administrators and maintenance crew. They will learn how to distinguish fire ant mounds from native ant mounds; when fire ants are most likely to build mounds; and what to do if a student is stung. Awareness is the first step to keeping kids safe.

For more information visit www.fireants101.com or follow @FMCturf.com.