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Two weekends ago I had Dr. Paul Nester, IPM Fire Ant Coordinator with the Harris County Cooperative Extension Service, on the program. And I asked him to culminate his discussion into another tip sheet for our GardenLine Tip Sheet Subscribers.
First, I would like to take this chance to thank Randy Lemmon, for this opportunity to visit with his audience during the March 6 Garden Line broadcast. It is a pleasure to sit in the studios and answer questions from his listeners. After the show Randy asked me to write short article on some of the products we discussed during this broadcast. For those of you who do not know me, I am Paul Nester, Extension Agent – IPM, with the Texas Cooperative Extension. I am located at the Harris County Extension Offices, off of Hwy 6, close to Bear Creek Park. I focus on the management of fire ants in urban areas, and through media avenues such as Randy Lemmon’s Garden Line, and his e-mail newsletter, I am able to visit with the general public and discuss problems with fire ants and the various methods available for their management.
With the increased rain fall we have seen over the past few months, I suspect an abundance of fire ant mounds will be appearing in a yard close to you in this spring. For 2005 we will see a couple of new products and the slow demise of an old product. The spinosad product that was labeled in 2002, and one Randy has talked about, is recognized by the National Organic Standards Board, as being "all natural" and several of the available products will carry the Organic Materials Review Institute logo (OMRI) showing that it may be used in organic crops. Please check the label to make sure the area you intend to use on is listed on the label. The products with the OMRI logo may be considered by those of you who use natural products when controlling insects in your garden. For fire ants spinosad will be available to the urban market as Green Light Fire Ant Bait, Ferti-lome "Come and Get It" fire ant killer, Safer Fire Ant Bait, or Ortho Fire Ant Bait Granules. DO NOT use more than the label says.
It has been observed that if more than the recommended rate is used, after picking the bait up the fire ants die before taking it back to the mound. You will see a good reduction in foraging fire ant activity but, you may not see good mound reduction because the queen and the young ants are not controlled. We want them to make it back to the mound so please follow the label closely. When used at the label rate, good results can be obtained. In 2004 Ferti-lome and Green Light will supply a 0.5% liquid spinosad product to the urban market. This product can be used as a spray to control foliage feeding insects on your lawn, landscape, or garden. There will also be fire ant mound drench instructions on the label. The Green Light products will also display the OMRI logo, allowing them to be used in gardens. Remember to always read the label and follow the directions closely!
Welmark International, manufacturers of the methoprene fire ant bait, Extinguish, has come out with a fire ant bait blend. This product combines both hydramethylnon (the active ingredient found in Amdro) and methoprene (the active ingredient found in Extinguish) as one product trade-named, "Extinguish Plus." This combination has performed extremely well in several research trials and Community-Wide programs. It can only be used in urban markets, around gardens, but not in gardens. For those of you with areas of land with farm animals, Extinguish Plus does not carry a pasture label. Please call me at the Harris County Extension Office, 281-855-5600, to discuss your specific needs when it comes to agricultural related uses.
The fipronil product will be available this year as "Over N Out" or "Top Choice." Your yard care professional may recommend the product "Top Choice," this is similar to "Over N Out," just available for their use. Results are varied from last year. Most people have been satisfied with the results. It must be emphasized that this product should be used early in the year, to catch the fire ants as they become active. Best results are seen when applications are made in March. It will take about 3-4 weeks for the product to control a mound, so don’t expect to see dead fire ants over night. This product is only labeled for "once a year" application. Do Not use as a single mound treatment! Top Choice, the professional product, also carries a label for mole cricket control. Please contact me for additional information on this use. I know that The Conroe Independent School District is using Top Choice on athletic fields with a severe mole cricket problem.
One of the oldest fire ant bait products Amdro (hydramethylnon) will again be available in a "yard treatment" formulation for broadcast application over a yard (Amdro Fire Ant Bait Yard Treatment). The product will cover from 5,500 – 11,000 square feet. This should not be confused with the standard Amdro Fire Ant Bait, of which a pound will cover one acre of land. Please read the label. The Amdro Fire Ant Bait Yard Treatment comes in a 5.5 pound bag while the Amdro Fire Ant Bait comes in one pound or six ounce plastic jugs. Confused yet? That is why I always stress reading the label of products before buying. Remember if the product you want is a bait, it must say "bait" on the label.
Diazinon, is slowly being phased out of the homeowner market. The homeowner label for this product has been withdrawn by the manufacturer. Existing supplies will be sold. It will be replaced in the market with the synthetic pyrethroid products. Deltamethrin or bifenthrin, products Randy regularly advertises, are excellent examples of this class of insecticide. These products will be available as both dusts, and granules. Examples of other products are, cyfluthrin, tralomethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, permethrin, and a few others. I refer to them as the "thrin" products. Use them as stated on the label and you will be satisfied with the results.
If you have questions on these fire ants products please call me, Paul Nester, at 281-855-5600, and ask for the "fire ant guy!" You can also visit the Official Web Site for the Fire Ant Project at http://fireant.tamu.edu
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.
A member of the TX A&M University System and its statewide Agriculture Program.
Until next issue, here's to
Great Gardening from the GardenLine, heard
exclusively weekend mornings from 8 to noon
on Talkradio 950 KPRC.
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It's Thurs., March 31, presented by Bark Busters at the Improv Comedy Showcase & Restaurant in the Marq*E Entertainment Center, 7620 Katy Freeway at Silber! Doors open at 2 p.m. for a free happy hour buffet and drink specials all afternoon. Join Pat Gray, Glenn Beck and the entire TALKRADIO 950 cast broadcasting live 4-7 p.m. If you can't make it by, check out the live webcam presented by Shaw's Jewelry on West Gray!!
  
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