fire ants & crazy ants presentation
TRANSCRIPT
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
Approximate location of Rasberry crazy antAugust 2008
