Bait treatments for fire ants are frequently recommended and are often a great choice for controlling imported fire ant (IFA) populations. Fire ant baits rely upon the fire ants to pick the material up and take it back to their mounds. Once in the colony the bait is incorporated into the food system where the active ingredient is passed to all members of the colony. The following tips should allow the applicator to obtain the highest level of control.
People often indicate they believe fire ant baits “just move the mounds around”. Research shows that if applied correctly fire ant baits can reliably reduce the fire ant population by 85% – 95%. Follow these simple hints to get the best performance from your fire ant bait application.
Baits must be applied while IFA are actively foraging. Technically, this is determined by the surface temperature. Temperatures between 70º and 95º F are ideal. The easiest way to determine if IFA are actively foraging is the use of a test bait. Place a small amount of bait in the area to be treated. IFA should hit the bait within 30 minutes.
Bait treatments are most effective when broadcast—Many product labels allow for individual mound treatments for fire ants, however, broadcast treatments are far more effective. There are a number of handseeders that work well if you are treating less than an acre. If you are treating larger areas consider a Herdseeder. Herdseeders are capable of being mounted on numerous vehicles and can apply at the low rates required by most fire ant bait products. If treating more than 200 acres aerial application can be an efficient and cost effective alternative.
Baits need to be applied when it is dry. A 12 hour window is recommended before rain or irrigation.
Use fresh bait. Most baits are formulated with three components, an active ingredient, soybean oil as a carrier, and defatted corn grit as a matrix. If the soybean oil goes rancid it is not attractive to the fire ants and they won’t pick it up. Baits usually do not store well so should be purchased in one time use quantities. They should be stored in a cool dry place until used.
IFA can forage a long distance from their colonies. When baiting difficult or sensitive areas this can be used. For example, a 30 foot buffer can be used around a pond to effectively treat mounds close to the pond. Another example might be IFA invading homes. Treatment around the outside perimeter is frequently effective against the home invaders.