FireRANT

By Jessica Rowland
Consumer Product Representative
Over ‘n Out

I have had many phone calls in the past couple of weeks from customers wanting to know how Over ‘n Out works.  Over ‘n Out works in two ways: preventative and curative.  This product works by being absorbed through the ant’s cuticle and by ingestion.  Fire ants cannot detect the presence of fipronil, the active ingredient.  Fire ants pick up the active ingredient on their bodies and carry it back to the mound. As they do this, the fire ants are distributing fipronil to the other colony members through grooming, feeding, and general contact.  The active ingredient blocks the inhibitory nervous system, unlike some insecticides that activate the nervous system.  By inhibiting the nervous system, Over ‘n Out leaves plenty of time for the ants distribute the product throughout the colony before the carrier dies.   Because Over ‘n Out is slower acting than most contact insecticides, the entire colony becomes infected before the ants realize that something is wrong. This allows maximum control in your entire treated area, not just on individual mounds.

Many folks question why Over ‘n Out needs to be watered in after application.  Fire ants like moisture; therefore watering encourages ants to come to the surface. This brings them into contact with Over ‘n Out. You should water your lawn for 20-30 minutes or apply it before a light rain.

Jessica Rowland has a degree in Agriculture Education, Communication and Leadership from the University of Kentucky.  She is a former agriculture and horticulture teacher.