News Article for April 27, 2009
From LSU AgCenter County Agent Kenny Sharpe of Livingston Parish:
Fire ants are a constant source of aggravation for many of us. As the weather gets nicer and we move more of our activities outside, it is obvious that they did not go away over the winter.
This is one of the best times of the year to get some relief from fire ants. We can control them, but that does not mean eliminate them.
In April, when the weather warms up, the fire ants are more actively foraging for food, and that intensifies into May. This makes May the ideal time to treat -- especially if you are treating the entire lawn.
There are several good chemicals on the market, and the one you choose will depend on your method of application. One way to approach the problem is to treat each mound. This can be very effective if you can see every mound, but that is seldom the case. Many of us have ants wandering all over the patio yet do not see any mounds.
If you want to treat mounds, an effective product with a low labor output comes from using Orthene 75S or Acephate 75S. This product comes as a soluble powder in a 1-pound can and is put out at the rate of 2 teaspoons per mound. It is by far the easiest mound treatment. All you have to carry is a disposable spoon and a 1-pound can. Sprinkle the powder over the mound and leave it alone. The ants will work the powder in and if it rains it will be washed in. There are also baits that will work. Some of them are designed as mound treatment and some are whole lawn control. The baits that work as mound treatments are Amdro, Combat, Max Force, Raid Ant Bait and Seige.
My favorite for whole lawn control are the growth regulators. They interrupt the life cycle and take about four to eight weeks to fully eliminate the mound. These growth regulators can be purchased as Extinguish, Extinguish Plus, Distance, Logic, Award and Spectricide Fire Ant Bait. These products are generally put out at 1.5 pounds per acre. The active ingredient is incorporated onto a small grit and spread on a dry lawn when there appears to be 48 hours without rain. The ants that are actively feeding will find it and share it will all the mounds.
In the vegetable garden you can use Extinguish either as a broadcast or mound treatment. You can also use Malathion or Sevin as a drench. You will need 1 to 2 gallons of the solution per mound to be effective.
In the lawn, the best control is gained from a mound treatment followed by broadcast bait. You will get even better control when a whole subdivision or community controls at the same time. Your neighbors will provide a buffer zone for you. If you are the only one who controls fire ants, ants from your neighbors' property will swarm and pay you a visit after the first rain.
*****************************
I have had several reports of small red sucking insects under the leaves of tomatoes. Those are pink potato aphids (yes, on tomatoes), and Malathion will give you good control. Malathion only has about an eight-month self life after you open the container, so you might need some fresh product. Spray late in the afternoon after the bees have already returned to their hive.
For more information on these or related topics contact Kenny at 225-686-3020.