fire ants & crazy ants presentation

Fire Ants and Crazy Ants!

Dr. Paul R. NesterProgram Specialist - IPM

Texas AgriLife Extension ServiceTexas A&M SystemHouston/Metro Area

“Tramp” ant

Tramp species have the following common features that enable them to be highly successful invaders:

• Able to hitchhike with human travel and establish colonies in new regions all over the globe

• Are omnivores--they will eat almost anything• Not aggressive to same species from different nests.• Aggressive to other ant species• Colonies with many queens, and many nests• Will nest under or in anything• Disperse by budding (queens and a group of workers separate from

the colony and walk to a new site).

“Tramp” ants

•Examples include:•Fire Ant•Rasberry Crazy Ant•Argentine Ant•Rover Ant•Big Headed Ant•Pavement Ant

Basic Ant Anatomy

Aaa

Red Imported Fire Ant

Aaa

Basic Ant AnatomyHead Thorax Abdomen

Petiole

Antenna

Acidopore

Coxa

Femur

Tibia

Tarsum

Clypeus

Mandibule

Lateral View

Setae

antweb.org

Postpetiole

Basic Ant Anatomy

Eye

Antenna

Funiculus

Scape

Clypeus

Mandibule

Club

Frontallobe

Head

antweb.org

One node Two nodes

Basic Ant AnatomyPetiole/postpeliole

Rasberry Crazy Ant

Aaa

0.5 mm

Acidopore: circle of hairs

at tip of abdomen

Rasberry Crazy AntNylanderia sp. nr. pubens

Standing macrosetae

Long scape

Long Femur

Look for

1)One node2)Macrosetae3)Acidopore4)Scape5)Femur6)Reddish to brown7)~2-3 mm

One node

J. Johnson - TAMU

Rasberry Crazy Ant Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens

J. Meyers- TAMU

Similar Genera, Species

Aaa

Differences from RCA

1)Long scape2)Long thorax3)Long femur4)Black, dark brown5)Eyes bigger6)~2-3 mm

Black Crazy AntParatrechina longicornis

antweb.org

Long scape

Long thorax, flattened

Long scape

Big eyes

Argentine AntLinepithema humile Differences from RCA

1)Reduced # setae2)Deep “depression” between 1-2 pair oflegs3)Abdomen “arrow”shape4)Dark brown5)Thinner (body, legs)6)~3 mm7)Head “triangular”

Abdomen “narrow” like

Pronotum“depression”

antweb.org antweb.org

Pyramid AntDorymyrmex flavus

Differences from RCA

1)Spine-like in propodeum2)Reduced # setae3)“Mustache” on clypeus4)Long palps5)Orange6)~2 mm7)Head “squared”

Spine-like

“Mustache”

Palps

N. sp. nr. pubensP. longicornis

L. humile D. flavus

0.5 mm

N. sp. nr. pubens P. longicornis

T. sessile

L. humile D. flavus

Red Imported Fire Ant Biology

Cover Box

Fire Ant Mating Flight

Queen Ant Laying Eggs: Oviposition

Worker Ant Tending Larvae

Argentine Ant Life Cycle

Red Imported Fire Ant

Mound Dynamics

Cover Box

Floating Colonies

Impact of Fire Ants

Cover Box

Biting and Stinging

Ants in Electrical Equipment

Fire Ants Predation and the effect on Wildlife

Impact of Fire Ants on ourQuality of Life!

Integrated Pest Management

• IPM - a strategy that– focuses on long-term suppression of

pests– uses a combination of control tactics– minimizes pesticides’ negative impact

on people and the environment– strives to be economical

Definition of IPM

• Integrated Pest Management: Management of pest populations using systems of complimenting control strategies that maintain pest populations at levels that can be tolerated by humans in terms of their economy, health, and/or quality of life

Integrated Pest management

– Focuses on long-term suppression of pests

– Proactive rather than reactive– Uses a combination of control

tactics– Minimizes pesticides’ negative

impact on people and the environment

– Strives to be economical

Early Use of IPM

• 1888: First highly successful classical biological control program: importation of vedalia beetle to control cottony-cushion scale in citrus

Photo by UC Davis.

Knowledge is the key

• Knowing the pests’ biology and habits help in the selection of control practices

Proper Identification

• Different pests have different control strategies

• Important to properly identify by :– Collect sample of

damaged item or droppings

– Take a digital image of the pest, damage or droppings

Control Tactics

• Determine control strategies to be used- Some examples:

• Cultural/Sanitation: eliminating water sources and pest habitats, bed preparation, crop rotation

• Mechanical/Physical: trapping, removal of infested branches, hand picking

• Biological: introduce natural enemies• Chemical: use of pesticides

The IPM pyramidPesticides

Biological controls

Physical / Mechanical

controls

Cultural / Sanitation Practices

• Individual Mound Treatments(Granules, Drenches, Dusts, Baits, Organics)

• Use contact insecticides(synthetic pyrethroids, acephate, carbaryl, spinosad)

• 2-Step Method(Annually/semi-annually treat yard with bait, then treat nuisance mounds with spot treatment)

• Use long residual insecticides(fipronil, i.e., Over ‘n Out, Top Choice)

Control Approaches

Individual Mound Treatments(Granules, Drenches, Dusts, Baits, Organics)

Application of contact insecticide(fast acting)

Two-Step Method - Least toxic, cost-effective method - Most suitable for larger, fully-infested areas- Reduces surface runoff water contamination

Step 1: Relies on periodic broadcast application of fire ant bait product(s)

Step 2: Uses mound treatments to treat “nuisance” ant mounds, only

Long Residual(fipronil, e.g., Over ‘n Out, Top Choice)

Determining Fire Ant Mound Densities

59 ft

¼ acre circle

Choose areas to be surveyed

Usually 4 areas will do

Count active mounds within the 4,¼ acre circles

Total will be the # mounds/acre

Usually greater than 20 mounds per acreor 4-5 mounds/residential lawn needstreatment. Broadcast fire ant bait recommended for > 20 fire ant mounds

This may vary depending upon specific needs of landowner

r

Area = πr2

Available BaitsActive ingredient Product namehydramethylnon Amdro Pro, Probait, Amdro, MaxForcemethoprene Extinguishpyriproxyfen Esteem, Distancehydramethylnon Extinguish Plus, Amdro Firestrike

+ methoprenefenoxycarb Awardindoxacarb Advion, Spectracide (Once & Done)spinosad Ortho, Green Light, Safer, Ferti-lomeabamectin Clinch, Varsity, Ascendfipronil MaxForce FC

Available Baits

Tips for Applying Fire Ant Bait Insecticides

• BAIT MUST BE FRESH! (Pleasant corn-like odor, NOT sour)

• Temperature must be between 70ºF and 95ºF.

• Grass must be dry (Soil can be moist)

• No rain expected for 8 hours after application of bait

• Do Not mix bait with fertilizer

• Do Not use push-type spreaders

Bait Applicators

Product

Gasoline/DieselHome Cleaning AgentsGrits, Sugar, Baking

Soda, Flour, etc...Orange PeelsCitrus OilMistletoe Berries

Other’s

Home RemediesEffect, If Any

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!Moves the Mound/Not

deadly to antsSame as above60% Kill Rate in testsJoy, Peace, Goodwill

Toward ants ?????

Paratrechina nr pubens,“Rasberry Crazy Ant”

Worker

Queen and brood

Colony

• Multiple queen (polygyne)• Many nests (polydomas)• Nests under any object• Foraging trails plentiful in summer during cooler

part of day• Foraging indoors• Displaces other ant species(?)

Argentine Ant vs Rasberry Crazy Ant

Workers

Queen and workers

Paratrechina activity

Under leaf debris

Running on curb

Paratrechina “intensity”

AaaaaaaaSo, where are they now?

• Rasberry crazy ants have been found in localized spot infestations in southeast Houston (Harris County), including Houston, Pasadena, Deer Park, Friendswood, San Jacinto Port, Pearland, Seabrook, La Porte, East Columbia and Montgomery.

• As of September 2009, localized infestations have also been confirmed in areas of Bexar, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Liberty, Montgomery, Orange, Walker and Wharton counties. New infestations are suspected beyond these areas.

2008

2002

2005

2006

2007

Key

(Hwy 105)

Montgomery Elementary School

20774 Eva Street

Montgomery, TX 77356

Eva Street To Conroe, TX

Movement?

• RCA has the potential to spread well beyond its current range in coastal Texas, to possibly include the southern half of Texas and the southeastern U. S.

• RCA is a semi-tropical ant and high populations may be limited by cooler weather conditions.

Aaaaaaaa

Movement?

• These ants can be transported through movement of almost any infested container or material.

• The movement of garbage, yard debris, bags or loads of compost, potted plants or bales of hay by car, truck, railroad or airplane can transport ant colonies and result in new areas of infestation.

Aaaaaaaa

Concerns• Foraging ants cover the ground and readily

enter structures. Are a nuisance and may affect home values in infested neighborhoods.

• RCA have an affinity for electrical units and will disable almost any electrical system by interfering with switches and circuits including traffic signal boxes, computers and air conditioners, leading to high repair costs and disruption of electrical services.

Aaaaaaaa

Concerns

• Due to the small size of these ants, and their abilities to forage within structures, they may have potential importance in medical facilities as carriers of pathogens between patients the same way the Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) does.

Aaaaaaaa

AaaaaaaaGeneral Aesthetics

AaaaaaaaStructures

AaaaaaaaIndustry

AaaaaaaaLandscapes

AaaaaaaaWhat can you do?

• The best practice to prevent a Rasberry crazy ant infestation is by being “ant-aware.”

• Report suspicious ant problems, and have the ants identified by a specialist.

• Avoid bringing ant-infested articles onto your property. Carefully inspect new plant materials, mulch or soil brought onto you property.

AaaaaaaaWhat can you do?

• If Rasberry crazy ants are detected, practice good sanitization techniques by removing potential nesting sites, such as piles of debris (mulch, wood etc.) from around buildings, or stacks of debris from the property.

• Reduce aphid and honey dew forming insects on vegetation next to the structure, as the ants are attracted to this sugar source.

AaaaaaaaWhat can be done?

• Use Termidor insecticide as a barrier treatment on and near houses. This product is effective for several weeks if applied. Phantom insecticide may be used indoors.

• Advance Carpenter Ant bait manufactured by Whitmire is the bait preferred by RCA. It can be applied out of doors around the house. Should be applied early in season (more data needed). The number of applications and exact rate is still being researched?

Aaaaaaaa

AaaaaaaaTermidor® SC TreatmentCrisis Exemption Label

• 3 ft. up• 10 ft. out

AaaaaaaaCoverage Challenges

Coverage Challenges

Phantom® Barrier Treatment

• Baseboards, cracks and crevices

Aaaaaaaahttp://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm

http://fireant.tamu.edu

http://fireant.tamu.edu

http://www.extension.org

AaaaaaaaThis information was developed on behalf of the Crazy Ant Task Force members from these agencies and

organizations:

• Texas A&M University Department of Entomology, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and Research

• United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, and Agricultural Research Service

• Texas Department of Agriculture• Texas Department of Transportation• Texas Parks and Wildlife• U.S. Fish and Wildlife• Texas Nursery and Landscape Association• Budget Pest Control

Questions ????

p-nester@tamu.edu281-855-5639

Approximate location of Rasberry crazy antAugust 2008