Tuesday | August 22, 2006

Beware the floating fire ant!

The upcoming hurricane season is being viewed with trepidation in many areas.  High winds and flooding are almost certain in many parts of the South.  On top of everything else, homeowners should keep an eye out for fire ants, which form protective balls in floodwaters.


We've blogged before about fire ants and hurricanes, but this time we're giving you the knowledge to prevent some of the issues we saw last year.   

Over ‘n Out Fire Ant Killer™ has compiled tips for homeowners on the lookout for these pesky pests.  Dr. Linda Hooper-Bui from the LSU AgCenter gave us the dirt.

Before hurricanes hit, homeowners should treat their lawns to suppress fire ants.  Granular broadcast treatments, such as Over ‘n Out, provide great protection, killing fire ants in as little as three weeks.  It is best to treat in the late afternoon when it is cooler and fire ants are foraging for food.

During hurricanes, be aware of fire ant balls in floodwater, as well as floating debris where they might take refuge.  They can be found hiding in debris and garbage that has settled during flooding. Should you encounter fire ants in water, be aware that they will latch onto anything that will provide higher ground – including people.  They will sting if they latch onto you.  Brush them off quickly; don’t slap at them, as this will only anger them.  When fire ants are especially agitated, such as during flooding, they sting with higher volume.  This doesn’t mean that they inject more venom; rather they inject more fluid, which can include floodwater.  Do not break pustules caused by stings.  You risk infection from bacteria in the water. 

After hurricanes, be very cautious when clearing debris.  Use a long-handled shovel to move rubbish, keeping it far from you.  Put a layer of talc powder on the handle and wear rubber gloves.  Fire ants, should they start to climb the shovel, have a tough time clinging to talc-covered surfaces. Experts recommend waiting a week after a hurricane to treat your lawn.  Be on the lookout for new infestations.  A new influx of fire ants may or may not stay in your lawn, and previous treatments may still be embedded in the ground.  Observe your lawn for granules of product that still exist.  This can still be an effective treatment.  If the fire ants are still there after a week or so, disperse another round of treatment.
Posted by Admin at 21:40:08 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday | April 12, 2006

"Spread" the Love

FireRANTer John Ritchey asked us to recommend an adjustment setting on his broadcast spreader (see comments sidebar for more detail).  While we don't have the exact settings for his model, FireRANT has an easy way to figure out the appropriate setting for your spreader.

Since Over 'n Out directs you to use two pounds of product per 1000 sq. feet, you should first measure or step off a 1000 sq. foot area.  Be sure to mark your boundaries.

Then proceed to fill your spreader with two pounds of product to distribute over the marked off area.  Set the spreader at the next-to-lowest setting and begin distributing over half of the area.  At this point, check to see how much product is left in the hopper.  If less than half remains, increase the setting by one increment.  Otherwise, continue spreading the granular treatment and kill those fire ants!

 

Jessica Rowland, Consumer Product Representative, contributed to this entry.

Posted by Admin at 22:59:19 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |