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
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
Management of Imported Fire Ants
in the 1950’s


1957: U.S. Congress appropriated $2.4M to USDA for
federal/state cooperative
 Management and eradication program
 Nov. 1957 - heptachlor & dieldrin applied by air
and ground
Environmental concerns began one year later, 1958,
stopped
Management of Imported Fire Ants in
the 1960’s



1960: mirex bait developed by
the USDA
1962: mirex bait replaced
heptachlor as treatment for fire
ants
1962: publication of Rachel
Carson’s Silent Spring
Converted WWII aircraft used to apply mirex bait 1962-1978
More than 140 million acres treated
AIRCRAFT BEING LOADED WITH MIREX BAIT
Management of Imported Fire Ants:
The Mirex Years



Total treatment costs = 0.30 cents/acre
Late 1960’s: mirex residues detected in non-targets
All registrations of mirex cancelled in 1978 because:
 Persisted in the environment
 Accumulated in non-target organisms
 Toxic to estuarine organisms
 Potential carcinogen action noted
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
Development of Imported Fire Ant
Chemical Controls







1937 – calcium cyanide dust
1947 – chlordane dust
1957 – heptachlor & dieldrin granulars
1962 to 1978 – mirex
1980’s – hydramethylnon, fenoxycarb, & abamectin
1990’s – pyriproxyfen, methoprene, & spinosad
2000’s – fipronil, indoxacarb, & ???
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
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
Concluding Remarks



CHEMICAL CONTROL is still the most effective method;
however, biological control agents may provide long term
suppression of fire ant populations.
FUTURE CONTROL will involve multiple strategies of
chemical, biological, behavioral, molecular, physical and
cultural methods
EDUCATION is an important key and plays a vital role in
the management of IFA; hence the development of
www.extension.org/fire+ants
For more information, visit eXtension at
http://www.extension.org/fire+ants
Publications, slide sets, streaming video, posters, and more…