Managing Red Imported Fire ants in Virginia
PI(s): Allen, Hamilton, Miller, Dini M
Investigators: Brewster, Carlyle C., Schultz, Peter B
Abstract: The first report of red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Virginia was recorded in 1989. Since that time, several thousand mounds have been identified in the southeastern, coastal regions of the state. The Virginia Department of Agriculture is currently responsible for all RIFA control in Virginia. However, limited resources and the possibility that the RIFA has become established within the coastal regions of the VA has led the Virginia Department of Agriculture (VDACS) to consider placing certain Virginia counties under the Federal RIFA quarantine. One consequence of the quarantine implementation is that FIRA control being transferred to homeowners and pest management professionals within the quarantine areas. Because these individuals have no experience in FIFA control, the Virginia Cooperative Extension services has undertaken a study to evaluate RIFA control products for efficacy.
Description: The standard method currently used by VDACS is an individual mound application of hydramethylnon bait (0.73%) followed by an acephate mound drench 6 weeks later. However, field studies in other states have demonstrated that individual mound treatments are time consuming and may not be as effective as broadcast treatments using either a bait or granular formulation. In this study, the efficacy of three broadcast products, indoxacarb bait (0.45%), fipronil granules (0.0143%), and a combination of the indoxacarb and fipronil are being compared in field evaluations to the individual mound treatments (VDACS method) over the course of one year. Preliminary data indicates that fipronil granules and the indoxacarb/fipronil combination reduced RIFA foraging pressure after 30 days.
Commodities: Greenhouses, Turf
Resources: Agricultural Experiment Station Facilities
Disciplines: Environmental Quality, Integrated Pest Management, Urban
Audiences: Extension Agents, Homeowners, Researchers
