Distribution and Size of Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Mounds in Recently Invaded Ball-and-Burlap Nurseries in Tennessee

2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
James T. Vogt ◽  
Jason A. Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Age Structure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
South Central ◽  
Intermediate Size ◽  
And Control ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Mound Size ◽  
Ant Mounds

A study was undertaken to describe size and distribution of imported fire ant mounds in south-central Tennessee ball-and-burlap plant nurseries to (1) improve survey and control measures and (2) assess the feasibility of airborne remote sensing for mound detection. Mounds were most numerous along roadsides and road cuts. Mounds in planted areas were larger than mounds along roadsides and road cuts, and mounds in open, grassy areas were of intermediate size (mean above-ground volume = 8.14, 4.36 and 5.32 L, respectively). An examination of mound size distribution in nursery landscapes indicated colony age-structure may not be consistent between landscape-date combinations, and mean mound size was smaller in July 2004 than in October 2003.

Comparison of Diets of Two Fire Ant Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Solid and Liquid Components

1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leeanne E. Tennant ◽  
Sanford D. Porter
Keyword(s):  
Solid Food ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Ant Colonies ◽  
South Central ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Adjacent Field ◽  
Central Texas ◽  
Sufficient Food ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

Diets of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, and the native fire ant, Solenopsis geminata [F.], were studied in adjacent field colonies in south central Texas. A comparison of solid food diets of the two species revealed a 59% overlap of identifiable arthropods and other solid food matter. The major difference was that S. geminata collected eight times more seeds than did S. invicta. Both species collected liquid food much more frequently than solid food; in fact, an average of 70–80% of successful foragers returned with liquid. Rates of liquid collection were approximately 40% higher for S. invicta than for S. geminata. Foraging rates fluctuated with season but the percent of successful foragers returning with liquid remained relatively constant. Plants and honeydew producing homopterans are the most probable sources of this liquid based on sugar and amino acid analyses of S. invicta foragers. Use of liquid carbohydrate energy sources helps explain how fire ant colonies can collect sufficient food to sustain extremely dense field populations.

PUBLIC ATTITUDES ON RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) INFESTATIONS IN HOMES AND RECREATIONAL AREAS

1989 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Lemke ◽  
J. B. Kissam
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Similar Proportion ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

A survey of South Carolina residents conducted between 1983 and 1985 solicited opinions on the red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren and its control. Eighty-seven percent of the 430 respondents felt they had a severe RIFA problem on their property and a similar proportion (89%), reported having had one or more members of their immediate family stung by RIFAs. Control measures were taken by 74% of the respondents. A survey of 55 pest control companies revealed that 97% received calls in 1984 concerning the RIFA. Eighty-two percent of these companies offered a service to control RIFAs in yards.

Assessment of Repellency of Nine Phthalates against Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers Using Ant Digging Behavior

2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Chen
Keyword(s):  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Liquid Scintillation ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Digging Behavior ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta Buren ◽  
And Control ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Scintillation Vial ◽  
Behavior Test

Repellency of nine phthalates against red imported fire ant workers, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was evaluated using ant digging behavior. Test compounds included dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl, dibutyl, dipentyl, dihexyl, diheptyl, dioctyl, and dinonyl phthalates. The active ingredient was incorporated into sand within a liquid scintillation vial with an entry hole on the cap. Fire ant workers dug and removed sand from the vial through the entry hole. The differences in amount of sand removed from the treated and control vials were used to evaluate chemical repellency. Of the 9 phthalates, dimethyl and diethyl phthalates were most repellant to red imported fire ant workers. The minimum repellant concentration within 24 h was 100 ppm for both dimethyl and diethyl phthalates.

scholarly journals Dynamic Thermal Structure of Imported Fire Ant Mounds

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (31) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
James T. Vogt ◽  
Bradley Wallet ◽  
Steven Coy
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Ant Mounds

scholarly journals A Comparison of Two Methods of Application on the Effectiveness Of Ascend Pt-370 (Abamectin 0.011% Ai) and Amdro (Hydramethylnonc 0.73% Ai) Ant Baits on Red Imported Fire Ant Mounds, 1992

1996 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 388-389
Author(s):  
Bill Summerlin ◽  
Roger Gold ◽  
Harry Howell
Keyword(s):  
Untreated Control ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
The Wire ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Methods Of Application ◽  
Ant Mounds

Abstract Ascend PT-370, supplied by Whitmire Research Laboratories, Inc. (St. Louis, MO), and Amdro were applied for RIFA control by two methods: sprinkled on the surface of the mound following label directions, and distributed around the mound (without disturbing the surface of the mound) for a distance of 2 feet. Prior to treatment, a wire stake was inserted into the center of each of 60 mounds. The wire was vibrated as to disturb the surface of the mound and the number of ants responding to this disturbance within the first 30 s was counted. Both pretreatment and posttreatment ant activity was evaluated on a qualitative scale of 0 to 3 with 0 indicating no activity, 1 indicating less than 10 ants responding, 2 indicating 10-100 ants responding, and 3 indicating more than 100 ants responding. This pretreatment activity was used to block the mounds into treatment groups. Activity counts were conducted at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 DAT. There were 12 mounds in each treatment and 12 untreated control mounds.

scholarly journals Toxic Effects of Crude Extracts from Chinese Herbal Toothpastes on Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Xiao ◽  
Babar Hassan ◽  
Junzhao Luo ◽  
Yijuan Xu
Keyword(s):  
Ethyl Acetate Fraction ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Crude Extracts ◽  
Significant Toxicity ◽  
Long Time ◽  
And Control ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ants ◽  
Imported Fire Ant

AbstractRed imported fire ant is an invasive species with the characteristics of quick dispersion, strong ferocity and aggression. For a long time, chemical control has been used as a main means of prevention and control of this pest, but the long-term use of high toxic pesticides will lead to a serious impact on the environment and non-target organisms. The toxicity of Chinese herbal toothpaste and its crude extracts against red imported fire ant was evaluated in the laboratory bioassay. The results showed that the traditional Chinese medicine toothpaste with watermelon cream has significant toxicity to red imported fire ants. The mortality reached more than 80% after 48h treatment, and the mortality was 100% after 72h treatment. Among the fractions separated from watermelon cream after the extraction of toothpaste, the ethyl acetate fraction has higher activity, and the mortality was more than 80% when the concentration was 1% after 72h. Our results suggest that Chinese herbal toothpaste is toxic to insects and have the potential for bait application in pest control.

scholarly journals Red Imported Fire Ant Control in Bahiagrass Pastures, 1996

1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 337-337
Author(s):  
K. L. Flanders ◽  
O. F. Farrior ◽  
Z. D. DeLamar
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Irregular Shape ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Plot Size ◽  
Active Fire ◽  
Ant Control ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Ant Mounds ◽  
Coastal Plain Soil

Abstract Test 1, located in Atmore, AL, was a RCB design with two replications, each block being in two adjacent, closely grazed bahiagrass paddocks on sandy, Coastal Plain soil. Plot size was 5-8 acres per plot, dictated by the irregular shape of the paddocks. The insecticide Amdro was applied in late afternoon on 16 May 1995 with a Solo brand backpack mistblower, in 20 ft wide swaths (within-swath rate of 3 lb bait/acre), alternating with 20 ft untreated swaths. Treatments were evaluated 16 May, 14 Jun, and 12 Oct 1995, and 7 Aug 1996, by counting number of active fire ant mounds in one, 60 ft by 200 ft transect, randomly located in each plot. The same transect was used on each evaluation in 1995. A new transect was located in each plot in 1996. The transect ran across swaths in the treated plots. A thin rod was inserted with minimal disturbance into each mound, to determine colony activity. Test 2, located in Brewton, AL, was a CRB design with two replications in a bahiagrass pasture. The paddocks were on sandy, Coastal Plain soil. Plot size ranged from 1.5-2.5 acres per plot, dictated by the irregular shape of the pasture. The insecticide was applied in afternoon on 30 Apr 1996 with a Herd GT77-A spreader, at a within swath rate of 1.5 lb bait/acre. Insecticide was applied in alternating 30 ft wide swaths, or as a conventional broadcast treatment. Treatments were evaluated 24 May and 7 Aug 1996, using same methods as in Test 1.

scholarly journals FIRE ANTS HAVE MET THEIR MATCH: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DECAPITATING PHORID FLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 499A-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Hunsberger ◽  
Ruben Regalado
Keyword(s):  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Red Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Successful Establishment ◽  
Phorid Flies ◽  
Imported Fire Ant ◽  
Ant Mounds ◽  
Accidental Introduction ◽  
Phorid Fly

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) has become a serious agricultural and animal pest in the southern U.S. since its accidental introduction in the 1930s. Traditionally, this pest ant has been under chemical control with very limited success and treatments must be repeated on a regular basis. One strategy to manage the red imported fire ant, which has been tried in parts of the southern U.S., is to use biocontrol agents to reduce fire ant populations. We released decapitating phorid flies (Pseudacteon tricuspis) as a self-sustaining biocontrol agent specific to S. invicta at two sites in South Florida during the spring of 2003 (site 1) and 2005 (site 2). Establishment of fly populations was monitored by disturbing 10 fire ant mounds and inspecting the number of hovering flies for 15 min. per mound. At site 1, within 1.5 years, 30% of mounds were positive for phorid flies and total estimated fire ant mounds decreased by 94%. At site 2, the number of mounds was recorded 1 day prerelease and 2 months postrelease. Ant mound density decreased by 71.4% with 73% of the remaining ant mounds positive for flies. This study confirms the successful establishment of the decapitating phorid fly in South Florida.

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