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Table 1. Fire
ant insecticides, modes of action and formulations, with generic
names of active ingredients and some examples of product names
Baits |
Indoxacarb
– Workers bring bait back to colony and larvae metabolically
activate the indoxacarb. Colony death can occur within 3 days.
Advion™ FAB |
| Hydramethylnon (amidinohydrazone) and sulfluramid (n-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide)
- These ingredients kill ants by preventing them from converting
food into energy. These baits eliminate fire ant colonies
within a week when applied to individual mounds, but these
take several weeks when broadcast. They are also formulated
in bait granules and bait stations. (hydramethylnon:
Amdro®,
AmdroPro, Siege®Pro, ProBait, Combat®, MaxForce®;
sulfluramid: Raid® Ant Bait Plus) |
| Avermectins (abamectin) - This bait product is derived from a soil fungus
and inhibits nerve transmission. As a mound treatment, it
kills worker ants and colonies quickly, but as a broadcast
treatment it acts more like an insect growth regulator, preventing
the production of viable eggs. (Ascend®, Clinch®,
Varsity®) |
| Spinosyns (spinosad) - These natural metabolite products are produced
by a soil microorganism (Saccharopolyspora spinosa), and affect
the nervous system. Bait formulations have a speed of activity
similar to hydramethylnon and sulfluramid baits. (Safer Brand
FAB, Green Light FA Control, Ferti-Lome Come and Get it! FAK,
Ortho FAKB, Southern Ag Payback FAB and others) |
Phenyl
Pyrazole (fipronil) - A nervous system toxicant, it blocks
the passage of chlorine ions by interacting with gamma-aminobuteric
acid (GABA) gated chloride channels on nerve membranes. A
bait formulation is available for use as a broadcast or individual
mound treatment for use on home lawns, golf courses and commercial
and recreational turf, adjacent landscape beds and sod farms.
Broadcast application provides maximum control 6 to 12 weeks
after treatment. (Chipco® FireStar® Bait,
CeaseFire) |
| Insect
Growth Regulators
(fenoxycarb, methoprene, pyriproxyfen or 2-[1-methyl-2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)
ethoxyl] pyridine)) - These materials mimic the effects of the insect’s
own juvenile hormone, reducing the production of viable eggs and
preventing the development of worker ants for up to a year after
application. They do not kill adult ants. Treated ant colonies persist
for several months after treatment, until worker ants present at
the time of treatment die naturally. These products are formulated
as a bait to be applied to individual mounds or broadcast. (fenoxycarb:
Award®, Logic®, methoprene: Extinguish®, pyriproxyfen:
Distance®, Spectracide® Fire Ant Killer Plus Preventer Bait,
Esteem) |
Contact Insecticides |
Botanicals (d-limonene, pyrethrins, others) - These plant-derived products
have various modes of action. D-limonene is a citrus oil
extract that kills ants quickly. Pyrethrins, which act on
the nerve axon, also kill ants quickly (within minutes to
hours) and can be used as mound treatments or surface sprays.
Rotenone acts on respiratory tissues, along with nerves
and muscles. Pyrethrins and rotenone products break down
rapidly in the environment. Rotenone and pine oil (turpentine)
products are relatively slow-acting (days to weeks) and
are applied as mound drenches. (pyrethrins,
PBO and silicon dioxide: BombsAway FADehydrator, Demise FA & Insect
Dehydrator, Diatect III; d-limonene: Rainbow Liquid FA & Insect
Killer; Victor Safer Brand FAK ) |
Derivatives
of Pyrethrins (allethrin, resmethrin, sumithrin, tetramethrin)
- Like pyrethrins, these products destabilize nerve cell
membranes and kill quickly, but are quickly deactivated
and have little residual activity. They are applied as aerosol
injections, mound drenches or surface sprays. (tetramethrin:
Misty FAK & Injector) |
Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate,
fluvalinate, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, s-bioallethrin,
s-fenvalerate, tefluthrin, tralomethrin) - These products
also destabilize nerve cell membranes. They can persist
in the environment longer than pyrethrins and their derivatives.
They are relatively quick-killing and are applied as mound
drenches, dusts or surface sprays and granules. (bifenthrin:
Talstar® or Ortho® FAK G; cyfluthrin: Bayer® Advanced
Lawn FAK D and G, Real-Kill FAK G; deltamethrin: Eliminator
FAK, Eagles-7 FA Destroyer, Basic Solution FAK, Bengal Ultradust
2X FAK, Terro FAKD; lambda-cyhalothrin: Spectracide FAK
Mound and Broadcast G2, Spectracide FAK G2, Spectracide
TriazideSoil and Turf Insect Killer Granules; permethrin:Hi-Yield
Imported FA Control G, Maxide FAK II and FAK Plus!; Green
Light FAK, Howard Johnson’s FAK, Spectracide No Odor
FAK D) |
| Carbamates (carbaryl)
- These materials disrupt nerve transmission (cholinesterase
inhibitor). They are relatively quick-killing and are used
as mound drenches and surface sprays. (Sevin®) |
Organophosphates (acephate, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, fenthion, isofenphos,
malathion, propetamphos, trichlorfon) - These products also
interfere with nerve cell transmission (cholinesterase inhibitor).
They are relatively quick-killing. Formulated as aerosols,
liquids, dusts or granules, they are applied as mound treatments
or surface applications. (acephate: Orthene®, Surrender
Fire Ant Killer and others). |
Phenyl
Pyrazole (fipronil) - A nervous system toxicant, fipronil
blocks the passage of chlorine ions by interacting with gamma-aminobuteric
acid (GABA) gated chloride channels on nerve membranes. Granular
formulations are available to broadcast-apply to turfgrass
areas achieving maximum control four to eight weeks following
application, and maintaining control for up to a year. (Chipco® TopChoice
Insecticide, Chipco® Choice Insecticide, Over ‘n
Out! Fire Ant Killer) |
| Inorganic
Compounds - Boric acid is a slow-acting stomach poison. It is commonly
formulated as a dust or liquid bait for control of ants. Diatomaceous
earth products (D.E., silicone dioxide) are usually applied
to ant trails indoors. D.E. abrades the waxy layer from the
insect exoskeleton, causing the insect to desiccate. However,
D.E. does not eliminate colonies within treated mounds. When
D.E. is used as a carrier in formulations of pyrethrins, it
may enhance penetration of this botanical insecticide into insect
bodies. |
Policy
statement for making chemical control suggestions
Suggested
pesticides must be registered and labeled for use by the Environmental
Protection Agency and the appropriate state Department of Agriculture
or regulatory agency. The status of pesticide label clearances is
subject to change and may have changed since this publication was
printed. County Extension agents and specialists are advised of
changes as they occur.
The
USER is always responsible for the effects of pesticide residues,
as well as for problems that could arise from drift or movement
of pesticides from his property to that of others. Always read and
follow carefully the instructions on the product label.
The
information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference
to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding
that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the participating
states’ Cooperative Extension Service is implied.
For
additional information about imported fire ant management, contact
your county Extension agent or visit these World Wide Web sites:
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