2. I. d. History of Fire Ant Management Based on a Presentation by David F. Williams Department of Entomology & Nematology University of Florida A Teaching Module for Master Gardener Training

3. Management of Imported Fire Ants in the 1930’s & 1940’s First attempts were to eradicate 1937: the first organized management program began with approximately 2,000 acres in Baldwin County Calcium cyanide dust 1940-1947: During these years (WWII), all management programs halted---fire ants continued to spread 1948: Mississippi, Alabama & Louisiana appropriated funds for control program 5% chlordane dust

4. Management of Imported Fire Ants in the 1950’s 1957: U.S. Congress appropriated $2.4M to USDA for federal/state cooperative 1957: U.S. Congress appropriated $2.4M to USDA for federal/state cooperative Management and eradication program Management and eradication program Nov. 1957 - heptachlor & dieldrin applied by air and ground Nov. 1957 - heptachlor & dieldrin applied by air and ground Environmental concerns began one year later, 1958, stopped Environmental concerns began one year later, 1958, stopped

5. Management of Imported Fire Ants in the 1960’s 1960: mirex bait developed by the USDA 1960: mirex bait developed by the USDA 1962: mirex bait replaced heptachlor as treatment for fire ants 1962: mirex bait replaced heptachlor as treatment for fire ants 1962: publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring 1962: publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring

6. AIRCRAFT BEING LOADED WITH MIREX BAIT Converted WWII aircraft used to apply mirex bait 1962-1978 More than 140 million acres treated

7. Management of Imported Fire Ants: The Mirex Years Total treatment costs = 0.30 cents/acre Total treatment costs = 0.30 cents/acre Late 1960’s: mirex residues detected in non-targets Late 1960’s: mirex residues detected in non-targets All registrations of mirex cancelled in 1978 because: All registrations of mirex cancelled in 1978 because: Persisted in the environment Persisted in the environment Accumulated in non-target organisms Accumulated in non-target organisms Toxic to estuarine organisms Toxic to estuarine organisms Potential carcinogen action noted Potential carcinogen action noted

8. In 1977, the USDA initiated a large-scale chemical screening program to find a replacement for mirex. In 1980, just 2.5 years after mirex was banned AMDRO FIRE ANT BAIT BECAME AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

9. Development of Imported Fire Ant Chemical Controls 1937 – calcium cyanide dust 1937 – calcium cyanide dust 1947 – chlordane dust 1947 – chlordane dust 1957 – heptachlor & dieldrin granulars 1957 – heptachlor & dieldrin granulars 1962 to 1978 – mirex 1962 to 1978 – mirex 1980’s – hydramethylnon, fenoxycarb, & abamectin 1980’s – hydramethylnon, fenoxycarb, & abamectin 1990’s – pyriproxyfen, methoprene, & spinosad 1990’s – pyriproxyfen, methoprene, & spinosad 2000’s – fipronil, indoxacarb, & ??? 2000’s – fipronil, indoxacarb, & ???

10. Two-Step Method for Treating Lawns For moderate to large areas of turf Not recommended for lightly infested areas Goal: Reduce fire ant problems while minimizing need to treat individual mounds Step 1- Broadcast bait product in spring and/or fall Step 2 - Treat nuisance mounds as necessary; start scouting 3 days after bait treatment

11. Community-wide Fire Ant Management Cooperative efforts can save money and effort Lengthens time of re-infestation Education is key Homeowners cooperate by treating the neighborhood Homeowner associations can contract with a commercial applicator to treat neighborhood

12. Concluding Remarks CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CONTROL is still the most effective method; however, biological control agents may provide long term suppression of fire ant populations. s FUTURE CONTROL will involve multiple strategies of chemical, biological, behavioral, molecular, physical and cultural methods is an important key and plays EDUCATION is an important key and plays a vital role in the management of IFA; hence the development of www.extension.org/fire+ants

13. http://www.extension.org/fire+ants http://www.extension.org/fire+ants For more information, visit eXtension at http://www.extension.org/fire+ants http://www.extension.org/fire+ants Publications, slide sets, streaming video, posters, and more…