by Dorough¹, H.D, Bertagnolli-Heller², V.E., Graham³, L.C., Ridley⁴, K.A.

¹ Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Piedmont Region, Talladega, Alabama 35160

² Consumer Horticulture Extension Agent/Master Gardener Coordinator, Clemson University Extension Service, Columbia, South Carolina 29229

³ Coordinator – Alabama Fire Ant Management Program, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849

⁴ Research Assistant, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849

Fire ants are a recurring problem in southern pastures.  Although relatively inexpensive, effective treatments are available, most livestock producers view them as cost prohibitive because of a low return on capital investment.  In addition, escalating fuel prices have forced an increase in the cost of applying fire ant baits.

A bulk mix of fire ant bait with fertilizer could allow producers to apply both products at the same time thereby minimizing application costs.  Two growth regulator products, pyriproxifen and s-methoprene were mixed with fertilizer in a bulk blender at the local farmer’s cooperative and taken immediately to the field.

A pyriproxifen treatment, a fertilizer treatment and an untreated control were also included in the experiment.  All treatments were applied to the pasture at label rates in a randomized complete block design replicated four times.  Fertilizer and fertilizer-bait blends were applied at 60-units nitrogen per acre.  Maximum fire ant population control obtained in the study was 92%.  There were no significant differences between the bulk-mix treatments and the pryiproxifen treatments at 5, 8, 14, 21 or 42 weeks post-treatment.

However, fire ant mound numbers declined slower early in the bulk-mix treatments than in the pryiproxifen only treatment.