The Latest Broadcast on Fire Ant Control Products
Dr. Paul R Nester, Extension Program Specialist II – IPM – Houston Metro Area
For more information see our web site, http://fireant.tamu.edu/controlmethods/index.php – Updated 1-25-2018
Fire Ant Bait Products (broadcast applications unless specified as single mound only)
Fire ant baits for both agricultural land (grazed, hayed, cropped, orchards, gardens, etc.) and urban areas
Read label thoroughly for specific uses.
Amdro Pro (0.73% hydramethylnon) – May be applied to grass forage (pasture and rangeland) for the control of fire ants in some southern states. Do not cut and bale hay from pastures and rangeland until 7 days after the bait application is made. Full effect of the product on the ants takes about 3-6 weeks.
Altrevin (0.063% metaflumizone) – Only for use in citrus orchards, tree nut orchards and grape vineyards, in nonbearing stone and pome fruit orchards and in nurseries containing nonbearing container or field grown stone and pome fruit tree stock. Speed of control 1-2 weeks.
Clinch (0.011% abamectin) – Speed of control similar to Amdro Pro, but label is more restrictive than Amdro Pro. Controls fire ants in citrus, almonds, walnuts, potatoes, vegetables, around barns and equipment, and chicken houses. Do not use in pastures or rangeland grazed by cattle, sheep, or other domestic animals (including horses), or around chicken houses where birds are allowed outdoor range.
Esteem (0.5% pyriproxyfen) – Esteem can be used in hay pastures or with livestock used for food or feed production. Esteem may also be used in select vegetables, and tree or vine fruits, but refer to the label for specifics. Relatively slow, 1-3 months applied in spring, 3-6 months in fall.
Esteem “Skip Swath”– In Texas only, can be applied as “skip swath” using suitable ground equipment such as a Herd GT-77 model seeder (http://www.kascomfg.com/kasco_seeders_g77_atv.html) to apply full rate (2.0 lb product/acre) to every other swath, thereby applying 1.0 lb/acre. For a discussion on “skip swath” please see footnote below for ANR-1297.
Esteem + Amdro Pro Hopper Blend 1 – In Texas only, mix 0.75 lb of each individually available product (50:50 hopper blend) applied at 1.5 lbs/acre total. Gives speed of control of Amdro Pro and the duration of control of Esteem at no extra cost. Similar restrictions for grass forage as Amdro Pro. For discussion on hopper blends see footnote below for ANR-1297.
Extinguish (0.5% methoprene) – Labeled for use almost anywhere. The active ingredient (methoprene) is very slow to work; usually 1-3 months if applied in the spring and, 3-6 months if applied in the fall. Full effect of the product varies with reinvasion pressure; one application per year is usually sufficient for good suppression.
Extinguish + Amdro Pro Hopper Blend1 – mix 0.75 lb of each individually available product (50:50 hopper blend) applied at 1.5 lbs/acre total. Gives speed of control of Amdro Pro and the duration of control of Extinguish at no extra cost. Similar restrictions for grass forage as Amdro Pro. For a discussion on hopper blends please see footnote below for ANR-1297.
Extinguish Plus (0.25% s-methoprene + 0.36% hydramethylnon) – the same ingredients as used in the hopper blend of Amdro Pro + Extinguish but sold as a single product. Extinguish Plus may be applied to grass forage (pastures and rangeland) for the control of fire ants in some southern states. Do not cut and bale hay from pastures and rangeland until 7 days after the bait application is made. Label more limited than Extinguish.
Fire ant baits for only urban areas or non-food producing lands Read label thoroughly for specific uses.
Advion (0.045% indoxacarb) – Labeled for use on lawns, recreational areas, golf courses and other noncrop/nongrazed areas, and fenced pastures grazed by horses and other companion animals. 90% or better control in 3-7 days with foraging suppression in 12-48 hours. Available only at specialty products stores.
Amdro (0.73% hydramethylnon) – labeled for use in urban as well as non-crop areas. Not to be confused with Amdro Pro. May be used in corrals and other animal holding areas, NOT for use in hay pastures or where livestock used for food or feed production is grazed. Refer to label for specifics. Full effect of the product on the ants takes 3-6 weeks.
Amdro Yard Treatment Bait (0.036% hydramethylnon + 0.0172% s-methoprene) – the same ingredients as Extinguish Plus, but lower concentration, in a single package formulated for homeowner that can be applied through a regular fertilizer spreader at 5 lb per 5,000 – 10,000 sq ft. May be used in corrals and other animal holding areas, NOT for use in hay pastures or where livestock used for food or feed production is grazed. Refer to label for specifics.
Ascend (0.011% abamectin) – Outdoors – use on Turf, Lawns, and Other Non-Crop Areas such as Parks and Golf Courses. Indoors – use in homes and the non-food/feed areas of commercial buildings, warehouses, hotels, food Storage Areas, inedible product areas of meat packing plants, motels, schools, supermarkets and the non-patient areas of hospitals and nursing homes. Hard to find. Available only at specialty products stores.
Award II (0.011% abamectin) – The active ingredient, abamectin, is a slow-acting stomach insecticide. Labeled for use in landscapes (including lawns) of residential, commercial, industrial and public buildings; schools, recreational areas and parks, athletic fields, playgrounds and churches (almond, citrus and walnut trees may be present in landscapes). Use in commercial nursery production of field and container-grown ornamentals and non-bearing trees. NOT for use in hay pastures or where livestock used for food or feed production is grazed.
Distance (0.5% pyriproxyfen) – Distance may be used on turf in residential/domestic sites, institutional sites, uncultivated non-agricultural areas, or on indoor and outdoor container or field grown ornamentals in commercial nurseries. Refer to the label for specifics. Relatively slow, 1-3 months applied in spring, 3-6 months in fall.
MaxForce FC (0.00045% fipronil) – Labeled for use in most urban areas. Speed of control similar to Amdro, but label is more restrictive than Amdro. Available only at specialty products stores.
Ortho Fire Ant Killer Mound Bait (0.008% indoxacarb) – Dilute version of indoxacarb active ingredient product, Advion. This product is only used as a single mound treatment on lawns, around ornamental plants and around gardens. Too dilute for broadcast applications. Should see reduction in mound activity in 3 days. Available in retail stores.
Probait (0.73% hydramethylnon) – labeled for use in urban as well as non-crop areas. May be used in corrals and other animal holding areas, NOT for use in hay pastures or where livestock used for food or feed production is grazed. Refer to label for specifics. Works in 3-6 weeks. Available only at specialty products stores.
Probait + Extinguish Hopper Blend1– mix 0.75 lb of each product (50:50 hopper blend) applied at 1.5 lb/acre total. Speed of control of Probait and the duration of control of Extinguish at no extra cost. To be used in urban as well as non-crop areas as well as in corrals and other animal holding areas, NOT for use in hay pastures or where livestock used for food or feed production is grazed. Refer to label for specifics. Full effect of the product on the ants takes 3-6 weeks. For discussion on hopper blends see footnote below.
Siesta (0.063% metaflumizone) – Use in nonbearing fruit, citrus and tree nut orchards; nurseries in, around nonbearing container or field-grown fruit and nut tree stock; around container or field-grown ornamental and nonbearing nursery stock; on lawns, turf, landscaped areas, golf courses, sod farms, industrial/municipal sites, other outdoor noncrop/nongrazed areas, such as airports, roadsides, cemeteries, parks, school grounds, picnic grounds, athletic fields and other recreational areas; on grounds surrounding poultry houses (excluding runs and ranges) or corrals and other animal holding areas; and outdoor areas around residences and residential areas, commercial and other structures, refer to label for all additional uses. Speed of control 1-2 weeks.
Spinosad bait products (also called Conserve , 0.015% spinosad) – Ferti-lome Come and Get It and Southern Ag Payback Fire Ant Bait may be applied in lawns and other turfgrass or recreational areas, including golf courses, parks, playgrounds, and playing fields, ornamentals growing outdoors, tree fruits, citrus, stone fruit, tree fruit. Application to vegetable gardens and single mound treatments in rangeland and permanent pastures are allowed. Additional applications may be required. Though these products are made from natural ingredients neither product is OMRI certified so cannot be used in commercial organic gardens.
1/ For a discussion on hopper blends please see the Southern IPM Center Publication E-628, Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control (https://www.agrilifebookstore.org/v/vspfiles/downloadables/E-628.pdf or http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1297/ANR-1297.pdf)
Contact Insecticides – short list 2“always read label thoroughly before using”
D-limonene containing products (various) – D-limonene is an extract of citrus peels that has contact activity on certain insect pests, including fire ants. Available as drench product (e.g., Orange Guard Fire Ant Control). Organic formulations will be OMRI certified.
Organophosphates (acephate) – These products interfere with nerve cell transmission (cholinesterase inhibitor). They are relatively quick-killing and are formulated as aerosols, liquids, dusts (Ortho® Orthene® Fire Ant Killer or Surrender Fire Ant Killer) or granules. They can be applied as mound treatments or surface treatment. Follow label directions.
Pyrethrins + Diatomaceous Earth products (various) – Pyrethrins (0.2% African daisy extract), Diatomaceous Earth (82.9% silicon dioxide), Piperonyl Butoxide (1.0% synthetic sassafras oil). Usually a powder that can be applied dry or wetted. This type of product is available from Diatect (Results Fire Ant Killer) or Organic Solutions (Multipurpose Insecticide).
Pyrethroids (Over ‘n Out Advanced, Ortho Max, Bayer Lawn and Garden, DeltaGard, Talstar, Demon CS, Cyonara L/P, Bifen L/P Granules etc. and other’s) – Fast acting products. Use to suppress foragers, but may not kill colony. Multiple applications may be necessary. Populations of other beneficial insects may be affected. Expect less than 6 month suppression. Available as granules or liquids.
Sevin XLR Plus (47% carbaryl) – For pasture fire ant mound drench, 1.5 quarts/100 gal.
Spinosad (0.5% liquid) – considered all natural or “organic.” Has a fire ant mound drench statement on label. Spinosad products are available from The Scotts Company, Southern AG, Monterey, Ferti-lome or Bonide. Several of these products are OMRI® listed meaning they are approved for use in organic gardens. Check label for the OMRI designation before using in commercial organic gardens. Spinosad is a biopesticide produced through commercial culture of a soil-born microbe that produces metabolites toxic to certain insects. These metabolites are harvested and formulated as an insecticide, so the final product contains no living microbes.
TopChoice® Insecticide, Taurus® G insecticide granules, or QUALI-PRO® Fipronil 0.0143G Broadcast Insecticide (0.0143% fipronil) Not baits products but act as fast as Amdro fire ant bait, with VERY long true residual activity preventing fire ant mound establishment for months or greater. Applied at sub-lethal rates and effects on other insects are minimal. May observe control for a year, particularly on clay soils. Expensive ($300-$450/43,560 square feet or 1 acre for 1 application) when compared to the use of fire ant baits ($10-$25/43,560 square feet or 1 acre for one application of fire ant bait, 2 applications of bait per year are recommended). Use in high traffic areas or where long term control is needed. No agricultural uses. The Topchoice or Taurus G product are restricted pesticides and not available through usual retail outlets and limited to one application per year.
Taurus® Trio G (0.0143% fipronil + 0.23% bifenthrin + 0.059% lambda cyhalothrin) – Not a bait. Fast acting product on all ants with the addition of the synthetic pyrethroids. The Taurus® Trio G is a restricted product. Comments on the very long residual activity of the added fipronil active ingredient, expense and application are similar to the other fipronil containing products mentioned above.
2/ See: http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0175-A/ANR-0175-A.pdf or http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1297/ANR-1297.pdf
2/ See also: ANR-0175-A, Fire Ant Control Materials for Alabama Homeowners or Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas