Download - The Red Imported Fire Ant in California Dr. Les Greenberg University of California, Riverside
The Red Imported Fire Ant in The Red Imported Fire Ant in CaliforniaCalifornia
Dr. Les GreenbergDr. Les Greenberg
University of California, RiversideUniversity of California, Riverside
Origin of Imported Fire AntsOrigin of Imported Fire Ants
South AmericaSouth America: : Brazil, Uruguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, ArgentinaParaguay, Argentina
U.S. IntroductionU.S. Introduction
Introduction to Mobile, Introduction to Mobile, Alabama, between Alabama, between 1930-19401930-1940
Probably arrived in Probably arrived in ship ballastship ballast
From there, spread From there, spread outward to the outward to the Southeast and WestSoutheast and West
Fire ant quarantineFire ant quarantine
Potential spread of fire antsPotential spread of fire ants
Originally 10° F. isothermal line; now at 0° Originally 10° F. isothermal line; now at 0° F.F.
Limiting factor of moistureLimiting factor of moisture Adaptation to man-made environmentAdaptation to man-made environment
U. S. ExpansionU. S. Expansion
MatingMating
Fire Ant DispersalFire Ant Dispersal
Stinging and Pustule FormationStinging and Pustule Formation
Transformers ShortedTransformers Shorted
Infested Areas of Southern Infested Areas of Southern CaliforniaCalifornia
Locating InfestationsLocating Infestations
Visual inspectionVisual inspection Luncheon meatLuncheon meat Corn chipsCorn chips
Nurseries in Trabuco CanyonNurseries in Trabuco Canyon
Subterranean Trail Under Subterranean Trail Under PlasticPlastic
Flower beds in Los AlamitosFlower beds in Los Alamitos
Coachella Valley Golf CoursesCoachella Valley Golf Courses
Mounds on Mowed GrassMounds on Mowed Grass
Mound at Mound at SprinklerSprinkler
Exit holes from Exit holes from underground underground foraging trails on foraging trails on putting greenputting green
Cleveland National ForestCleveland National Forest
2500 ft2500 ft
WetlandsWetlandsRancho Santa MargaritaRancho Santa Margarita
Infested Areas of the Central Infested Areas of the Central ValleyValley
Almond Groves in Central Almond Groves in Central ValleyValley
Biological Control AgentsBiological Control Agents
– Phorid flies: decapitating fliesPhorid flies: decapitating flies– Protozoan parasites: Protozoan parasites: ThelohaniaThelohania– Other species of antsOther species of ants
Phorid Phorid FliesFlies
Phorid Flies (Decapitating Flies)Phorid Flies (Decapitating Flies)
Phorid FliesPhorid Flies
Phorid Fly ReleasePhorid Fly Release
Phorid Fly ReleasesPhorid Fly Releases
Phorid Fly ReleasesPhorid Fly Releases
Between 1996 and 2002 the decapitating Between 1996 and 2002 the decapitating fly, fly, Pseudacteon tricuspisPseudacteon tricuspis, was released at , was released at 56 sites in the southeastern United States56 sites in the southeastern United States
Most releases have been made by the Most releases have been made by the USDA-ARS, CMAVE, Gainesville, FL ( 32 USDA-ARS, CMAVE, Gainesville, FL ( 32 sites) and the University of Texas, Austin sites) and the University of Texas, Austin (15 sites). (15 sites).
Phorid Fly ReleasesPhorid Fly Releases
Overwintering populations of flies were Overwintering populations of flies were successfully established at 19 sites in 6 successfully established at 19 sites in 6 states (AL-3, FL- 5, LA-3, MS-1, SC-2, TX-states (AL-3, FL- 5, LA-3, MS-1, SC-2, TX-5). 5).
Phorid Fly Expansion in Phorid Fly Expansion in FloridaFlorida
2002 est.
2001
2000
1999
2002 est.
2001
2000
1999
Thelohania solenopsaeThelohania solenopsae, , a microsporidian a microsporidian intracellular parasiteintracellular parasite
The most common fire The most common fire ant pathogen in Brazilant pathogen in Brazil
It was discovered in the It was discovered in the US in 1998 (FL, TX, MS, US in 1998 (FL, TX, MS, OK). OK).
Decreases ant’s Decreases ant’s longevity and reduces longevity and reduces colony sizecolony size
Inoculating Mound with Inoculating Mound with ThelohaniaThelohania
Insecticide Runoff from Insecticide Runoff from Treated HousesTreated Houses
Treatments 2007Treatments 2007
Treatments usedTreatments used– 3 gals fipronil spray perimeter3 gals fipronil spray perimeter– 1 gal fipronil spot 1 gal fipronil spot – 3 gals bifenthrin spray3 gals bifenthrin spray– Combination of fipronil spray and bifenthrin Combination of fipronil spray and bifenthrin
granulesgranules– Bait stations with imidaclopridBait stations with imidacloprid
Data From a Typical HouseData From a Typical House
Lawn area Lawn area measuredmeasured
Water meter Water meter recordedrecorded
Runoff Runoff estimatedestimated
Sprinkler Sprinkler locations locations mappedmapped
Collection site Collection site notednoted
Time that Time that irrigation is onirrigation is on
Water collection damWater collection dam
Dam placement at curbDam placement at curb
4-in styrofoam cut into 4-in styrofoam cut into U-shapeU-shape
Sand bags on Sand bags on styrofoamstyrofoam
Styrofoam and sand Styrofoam and sand bags put inside bags put inside disposable plastic disposable plastic bagsbags
Sample collectionSample collection
60-ml aquatic pipette60-ml aquatic pipette
Volumetric flow rate Volumetric flow rate (Q(Q)),, the volume the volume of fluid which passes through a given of fluid which passes through a given
volume per unit timevolume per unit time
Q = A x v,Q = A x v, where where– A = area (depth and width of water stream)A = area (depth and width of water stream)– vv = uniform average velocity of water (how long = uniform average velocity of water (how long
it takes to flow a known distance)it takes to flow a known distance)
Q*time - gives us an estimate of total water Q*time - gives us an estimate of total water runoffrunoff
Sample processingSample processing
One liter sample collected from one bank of One liter sample collected from one bank of sprinklers per housesprinklers per house
Sample stored at 4Sample stored at 400C C Sample analyzed at laboratory of Dr. Jay Sample analyzed at laboratory of Dr. Jay
Gan in environmental sciences, UC Gan in environmental sciences, UC RiversideRiverside
Schedule 2007Schedule 2007
Pretreatment ant evaluations and water Pretreatment ant evaluations and water samples collected in Junesamples collected in June
Post-treatment ant evaluations done at Post-treatment ant evaluations done at 1,2,4,and 8 weeks1,2,4,and 8 weeks
Post-treatment water samples collected at 1, Post-treatment water samples collected at 1, 4, and 8 weeks4, and 8 weeks
fipronil desulfinyl
sulfide
Concentration of fipronil and its byproducts in runoff
sulfone
PRETREAT
WEEK1
WEEK4
WEEK8
Trial
4000
8000
12000
16000
ng/l
FIP_3GALFIP_1GAL
TREATMENT
PRETREAT
WEEK1
WEEK4
WEEK8
Trial
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
ng/l
FIP_3GALFIP_1GAL
TREATMENT
PRETREAT
WEEK1
WEEK4
WEEK8
Trial
500
1000
1500
20002500300035004000
ng/l
FIP_3GALFIP_1GAL
TREATMENT
PRETREAT
WEEK1
WEEK4
WEEK8
Trial
4000
8000
12000
16000
20000
ng
/l
FIP_3GALFIP_1GAL
TREATMENT
Concentrations of fipronil and bifenthrin in runoffWith Ceriodaphnia LD50s
PRETREAT
WEEK1
WEEK4
WEEK8
Trial
10000
20000
30000
40000
ng
/ l
FIP_3GALFIP_1GALBIFEN_SPRAYBIFEN_GRAN
TREATMENT
Fipronil LD50
Bifenthrin LD50
20082008
6 different pesticide treatments6 different pesticide treatments– 3 houses sampled per treatment for insecticide 3 houses sampled per treatment for insecticide
runoff = 18 houses sampled runoff = 18 houses sampled – Sample periodsSample periods
PretreatmentPretreatment 1 day1 day 1 week1 week 2 week driveway flush2 week driveway flush
This summer’s fipronil treatments This summer’s fipronil treatments
All fipronil treatments limited to 1 galAll fipronil treatments limited to 1 gal– 1 gal peripheral spray -- pin stream nozzle 1 gal peripheral spray -- pin stream nozzle – Spot treatments Spot treatments – Same as above but not within 15 ft of street and Same as above but not within 15 ft of street and
5 ft of sidewalks5 ft of sidewalks
This summer’s bifenthrin treatmentsThis summer’s bifenthrin treatments
All use 3 galsAll use 3 gals– Pin stream nozzle perimeter treatment Pin stream nozzle perimeter treatment – Traditional fan nozzle perimeter applicationTraditional fan nozzle perimeter application– Spot treatments with 3 gals, but not within 15 ft Spot treatments with 3 gals, but not within 15 ft
of street or 5 ft of sidewalksof street or 5 ft of sidewalks
ConclusionsConclusions
We can successfully monitor how much We can successfully monitor how much insecticide runs off from treated houses due insecticide runs off from treated houses due to irrigationto irrigation
We can test different application techniques We can test different application techniques to minimize insecticide runoffto minimize insecticide runoff