FireRANT

In an effort to educate the public on the harm caused by fire ants, along with treatments available, Fire Ant Awareness Day has been declared! The first Fire Ant Awareness Day is set for next Tuesday, April 17, 2007.

The makers of Over ‘n Out Fire Ant Killer and a coalition of a lot of important people including; lawmakers, researchers, and extension agents across the country are joining forces to initiate the first-ever Fire Ant Awareness Day. The mission of the day is to promote fire ant education and treatment options among homeowners and families, and to build a list of signatures petitioning to form a nationally recognized day to further the cause.

Various events across the nation, cities including Charlotte, N.C., New Orleans, Dallas, and Phoenix, Ariz., are taking place on April 17, 2007 to help address this issue as a part of an educational campaign aimed to raise public awareness of harm caused by red imported fire ants to people, pets, and property.

For more information on Fire Ant Awareness Day and treatments visit www.fireantfree.com.

Tim Davis, fire ant suppression specialist with Clemson University, wanted to shed some light on a common question about fire ant treatment.  So here's the question of the day.

Question
Do grits really work for controlling fire ants?

Answer
The theory behind the use of grits as a fire ant management is the ants will eat the grits.  Once in the stomach the grits will swell causing the fire ant to explode.  Remember, however, fire ants do not eat solid food therefore this theory does not work.   Research plots have indeed demonstrated this method does not reduce fire ant mounds at all.  This theory may have its origin in the fact that defatted corn grit is used as a carrier for most of the fire ant bait products.

So there you have it.  Grits are not an effective way to treat for fire ants.  Fire ants do pick up granules of materials and bring it back to their colonies.  We were in New Orleans recently and watched them as they voraciously dragged bits of indoxacarb-treated granules back home.  We're certain that there are fewer fire ant mounds on Marbeau St. today.

Much thanks to Tim Davis for his contribution! 

As fire ants continue to spread throughout the state of North Carolina, quarantines on the movement of hay, logs, sod, dirt, and soil equipment are expanding. Newly-included counties in the quarantine include portions of Granville County, just north of Raleigh-Durham, N.C. as well as Clay, Cherokee, and Edgecombe counties. To date, 61 of the 100 counties in the state are included in the quarantine.

The quarantine, designed to slow the spread of the pest, is mandated by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA). Residents and business owners in the quarantined areas must now obtain permits before moving plants, sod, and related equipment into or through non-infested areas.

Fire ants were first found in Brunswick County, N.C. in the late 1950s and have continued to spread.

In an effort to build awareness and educate people throughout the United States, we’re circulating a petition asking our country’s legislators to make Fire Ant Awareness Day (April 17, 2007) into a nationally-recognized day.  Please take a moment to sign our petition!