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NAPLES, FLA. – Imported fire ants continue to expand their range throughout the more temperate regions of the United States, posing a significant public health threat, while causing billions of dollars of damage to American agriculture, government buildings and residential structures. In fact, the most recent estimates indicate fire ants cause nearly $7 billion in damage annually, rivaling termites in their destructive power, according to Dr. Philip Koehler, Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida.
Koehler was one of several prominent researchers who appeared on the program at the DuPont Advion® brand products Launch Symposium in Naples, Fla. last week. “Fire ant losses total close to $7 billion a year,” he said, “which vastly exceeds the damage termite’s cause.” For that reason alone, Koehler said, “If you’re not big time in the fire ant business, you’re making a big mistake.”
Accidentally introduced in the United States from South America in 1931, imported fire ants now infest more than 321 million acres in 13 states and Puerto Rico. Among the problems caused by fire ants are increased agricultural production costs, damage to structures and electrical equipment, and painful stings that can be life threatening to the more vulnerable members of the population, particularly children and the elderly. “We know from (media reports in) Florida fire ants can kill people in sensitive situations” such as nursing homes and child care facilities, Koehler said. “The ants come in and attack a person who cannot defend themselves. How about child care facilities?” he asked. “Have you ever seen a mother after their child has been attacked at a day care center? They’re usually not very happy.”
As a result, there’s a growing need for effective fire ant treatments. One of the newest products on the market, Advion Fire Ant Bait, offers a number of benefits to PCOs, Koehler said. “What are the two things you are most concerned about (when attempting to control a fire ant problem),” he asked? “Fast reduction and long-term control; Advion provides both.
“Most baits are slow-acting and require weeks to months to achieve 80 to 90 percent control,” he said. “Advion Fire Ant Bait controls within days of application.”
Koehler recommends the “Texas 2-Step” approach for urban fire ant control programs – a broadcast bait treatment around the structure followed by a targeted mound bait treatment. “It doesn’t take very much bait to kill off that ant colony rapidly,” he said.
Other presentations on day two of the DuPont symposium included a discussion of “Indoxacarb Broadcast Bait for Red Imported Fire Ant Control” by Dr. Charles Barr, formerly of Texas Cooperative Extension. Barr, who recently launched his own consulting business (see related story), said PCOs should think of the “Three P’s” – Problem, Prioritize, Program – when designing a fire ant control program. First, define the immediate and long-term problems associated with the fire ant infestation; second, prioritize such factors of speed of control, efficacy, treatment frequency, budget and labor costs when selecting the product mix for your fire ant program; and third, when designing a program, think beyond the first treatment to take a long-term view of the problem. “The single biggest factor you have to deal with is your customer’s tolerance (for fire ants),” he said. “And that’s a very individual thing that you have to be aware of when doing fire ant control.”
Among the speakers on day three of the conference was Dr. Dini Miller of Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, Va., and Donald Reierson of the University of California, Riverside. Miller provided a brief overview of the history of bait aversion, as well as reviewed the results of laboratory and field evaluations of Advion Cockroach Gel Bait, including its use in challenging public housing accounts in Portsmouth, Va. “These apartments have a lot of conducive conditions,” she said, and “they’ve been treated with every product known to man.” Applications were made to kitchens and bathrooms, and Advion Cockroach Gel Bait decreased trap catches by 96 percent, according to Miller, providing excellent control in a “severe test for any bait application.”
Reierson, a frequent speaker at industry educational events, reported on a variety of laboratory and field trials with Advion bait. Among the university’s findings were:
• Advion Ant Bait Stations, which will be commercially available soon, were effective against protein-deprived Argentine ants.
• Advion Cockroach Gel Bait was active against German and American cockroaches, providing 100 percent mortality of Blattella germanica in less than four days.
• Advion bait was active against bait-averse strains of Blattella germanica.
• Advion bait was as effective after aging one week as it was when fresh.
• Various laboratory choice trials suggest Advion bait is likely to be highly efficacious under field conditions.
Following Reierson on the program were two pest management professionals – Ron Box, director of training, Hulett Environmental Services, and Phil “Doc” Nichols, technical director, Middleton Lawn & Pest Control, Orlando, Fla. – who presented the results of their field experience with Advion bait for both ant and cockroach control.
In other news at the symposium:
• Dr. Chuck Silcox, development manager – turf, DuPont Professional Products, reported that the label for Advion Fire Ant Bait had been expanded to include big-headed ants and pavement ants.
• Dr. Mark Coffelt, a well-known name in the industry, has joined DuPont Professional Products as global development manager. In his new role, Coffelt’s responsibilities will include managing the technical group and leading the new product development efforts for the Professional Products group.
• Those recognized following the recreational activities at the conference, which included golf and deep sea fishing, were: Burns Blackwell, Terminix, closest to the pin; Bert Putterman, Arizona Exterminating Co., longest drive; Tom Luczynski, Orkin Pest Control, Todd Himmelberger, DuPont Professional Products, Burns Blackwell, Terminix, Ron Bissonnette, Univar USA, Mike McDermott, DuPont Professional Products, and Bert Putterman, Arizona Exterminating, low gross (tied, 66); Jami Guenther, McCall Service, most fish (12) and smallest fish (6 inches), and Ron Box, Hulett Environmental Services, largest fish (48 inches, 25 pounds).