Organic Fire Ant Management

Text and photos by Debbie Roos, Agricultural Extension Agent.

Introduction

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is native to Brazil and was accidentally introduced to the United States at the port in Mobile, Alabama in the 1930s, probably from infested soil used as ballast in cargo ships.

Fire ant populations have spread rapidly in U.S. in the absence of natural enemies; in fact, fire ant density in the U.S. is reported to be five to ten times the density in their native Brazil, where natural enemies keep fire ant populations in check.

There are four species of fire ants native to North America. The southern fire ant, Solenopsis xyloni, is found from North Carolina south to northern Florida, along the Gulf Coast and west to California. The presence of natural enemies and the rapid spread of the dominant red imported fire ant help keep southern fire ant populations relatively low. It is not considered a pest like the red imported fire ant.

Red Imported Fire Ants in North Carolina

In North Carolina, the red imported fire ant is found throughout much of the eastern half of the state, along with a couple of counties in the very western part of the state. The map below shows the areas (in red) that are currently under quarantine by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS). The quarantine mandates that the export of certain items (nursery stock, baled hay and straw, earth-moving equipment, etc.) that might carry fire ant infestations to other parts of the country is regulated.

Biology of the Red Imported Fire Ant

Colonies of fire ants consist of eggs, brood, polymorphic workers, winged males, winged females and one or more reproductive queens. New colonies are formed when a mated queen burrows into the ground and lays eggs. Once the first generation of workers emerges they begin foraging above ground for food to feed the queen and the developing brood. Within 30 days, larger workers have emerged and the colony begins to grow. Within six months several thousand workers can occupy the colony and a "mound" is readily visible. The polymorphic nature of the workers is striking: the largest workers can be up to 10 times the size of the smallest workers. The queen can live up to seven years and produces an average of 1,600 eggs per day throughout her life. At maturity, a fire ant colony can consist of over 250,000 ants.

Fire ant mounds on a lawn.

Fire ant mound at base of Rudbeckia maxima in a flower bed.

Foraging fire ant worker.

Fire ant mounds have a hard, rain-resistant crust and are often found in open sunny areas. There are usually no external openings in the mound; underground tunnels allow foraging workers to come and go. Fire ants are aggressive when disturbed and will defensively attack anything that disturbs their mounds or food sources.

Fire ants are omnivorous, feeding on insects, animals, and plants. Fire ants can have a devastating impact on native populations of ground-nesting insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Studies have shown that a minimum two-fold reduction occurs among populations of field mice, egg-laying snakes, turtles and other vertebrates when fire ants become established within an area. Fire ants also feed on seeds, seedlings, buds, and developing fruit.

Many regions of the southeastern U.S. are seeing increasing frequencies of "polygyne" or multiple queen fire ant colonies. This is a disturbing trend as nest densities of polygyne colonies can be ten times greater than those of the more common "monogyne" or single queen colonies. Research has shown that polygyne fire ants pose a serious threat to the biodiversity of native insect communities.

Dr. Kathleen Kidd, Biological Control Administrator with the NCDA's Biological Control Services, says that polygyne colonies are spreading rapidly in North Carolina. The mounds tend to be smaller but more numerous, the workers tend to be smaller, and the colonies are less territorial. Overall the polygyne colonies are better invaders which is not good news for North Carolina.

Fire Ants and Farms

Fire ants can present particular challenges in an agricultural setting. They feed on germinating seeds and can girdle the stems and trunks of young fruit trees. Tunneling fire ants can damage potato tubers and peanuts. During drought, crop damage can increase as fire ants seek alternate water sources. In drip irrigation systems, fire ants will build their mounds over the emitters, reducing or blocking the flow of water to crops. Fire ants are attracted by electrical currents and have caused considerable damage to pumps and other electrical equipment.

Fire ant mound in an orchard.

Fire ant mound in a vegetable bed.

The presence of fire ant mounds can interfere with farm activities such as planting, weeding, and harvesting. Fire ants can sting repeatedly and hypersensitive individuals can experience severe reactions to stings.

Organic Fire Ant Management

The objective to any treatment strategy is to kill not only the worker ants but also the queen since she is the only one capable of laying eggs. No method is 100% effective for everyone and no method is permanent. Repeat treatments will be necessary because the ants will re-invade, often after a rain.

ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, reports that the aggressive use of insecticides against the imported fire ant has only served to wipe out competing and predatory native ant species and increase the competitive dominance of the imported species by killing off its competition. With that in mind, it is important that fire ant management strategies minimize effects on native ant populations.

Disclaimer: This information is provided as a guide only and I make no claim that it is completely comprehensive. I have spent considerable time consulting the OMRI list, reading pesticide labels, talking with specialists and suppliers, and evaluating local availability of products. However, pest control products are changing all the time. Always read and follow closely the directions provided on the product label before using any pesticide.

Biological Control

Biological control agents for imported fire ants include predatory mites, parasitic nematodes, parasitic flies, and the fungus Beauvaria bassiana. Scientific studies are being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of some of these natural enemies, but others remain untested or have not been shown to be highly effective.

• Native Ants
  
  According to North Carolina State University entomologist Dr. Peter Hertl, native ants are the most important biological control agents for controlling fire ants. Hertl says that since native ants directly compete with fire ants for food resources, in many areas they are the only factor slowing the spread of the fire ant infestation.  Studies have shown that where broad scale insecticide applications are made for fire ant control, the native ants are killed too.  Unfortunately, without the native ants to compete and slow the spread, the invasive fire ants quickly reinfest the area, and often at much higher population levels than the original infestation that was treated.   
  
  
• Phorid Flies
  

  
  

  Phorid fly (top center of photo) hovers above fire ants. Photo courtesy of Bugwood Network

  Since the red imported fire ant is native to Brazil, scientists looked to that country for natural enemies that could be brought to the U.S. to help control the pest. They discovered the phorid fly (Pseudacteon spp.), also called the decapitating fly or the brain-eating fly. These tiny flies parasitize fire ants but do not attack our native ants. The female fly hovers above mounds and swoops down and lays her egg on a foraging worker. The egg hatches and the larva bores into the fire ant and spends about three weeks feeding inside the ant before pupating inside the ant's head. The ant's head eventually falls off and the adult fly emerges (pretty cool, right?). Fire ants will try hard to avoid the sting of a phorid fly. Photo courtesy of Bugwood Network

  As dramatic as this is, the main reason phorid flies are such effective biological control agents is not because they parasitize and kill fire ants but because of their effect on fire ant behavior. Fire ants can readily detect when phorid flies are present and are so terrified of these natural enemies that they will not come out of the mound to forage for food!
  
  Many southern states have spent years mass rearing and releasing phorid flies with varying levels of success. The goal is to establish permanent populations of phorid flies that can survive our winters.
  
  The NCDA&CS has been conducting research on the phorid fly in six counties since 2001. Rebecca Norris, Research Specialist with the NCDA's Biological Control Services, said that the department is evaluating several species of phorid flies since different species attack different sizes of fire ant workers. Also, different species of phorid flies are attracted to different things: for example, some are attracted by ant behavior (e.g., foraging) while others are attracted to alarm pheromones.
  
  After seven years of rearing and releasing phorid flies, researchers are starting to find flies that have survived through the winter in a few counties. For example, less than three years after their initial release in Wake County, phorid flies were found 17 miles from the release site at locations to the east, north and south.   
  
  Additional species of phorid flies are being tested by the USDA-ARS, and as they become available for release the NCDA plans to evaluate them as biological control agents. The NCDA's Dr. Kathleen Kidd  says that so far it is difficult to see an impact on the red imported fire ant populations resulting from the phorid fly releases. It will take more research and more time to build up permanent populations of the flies to have sufficient numbers to slow the progression of the fire ants.
  
  

Boiling Water

This method is most effective when most of the ants are close to the mound surface, such as on cool, sunny mornings or after a rainfall. Research has shown that approximately 3 gallons of boiling water will eliminate about 60% of the mounds treated. Remember that the queen can be several feet below ground and if she is not killed the mound will survive. Use care when handling large quantities of boiling water to avoid serious burns.

Pesticides

Pesticides for organic production go through a rigorous review process before they will be allowed and are only to be used as a last resort after preventative methods have failed. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is a national non-profit organization that determines which input products are allowed for use in organic production. When you see the OMRI logo on products that means the product is allowed to be used in organic production.

Note: In some instances I have listed suppliers for the pesticides mentioned. This is because some of these can be difficult to source. Inclusion on this website does not imply endorsement by North Carolina State University or North Carolina Cooperative Extension of any of the companies or products listed.

• Mound Drench
  
  Drench treatments work quickly and since they are applied directly to the mound have little effect on non-target insects.
  
  There are at least three organically approved mound drenches:
  

  1. Safer Brand Fire Ant Killer®. The active ingredient is D-limonene, an oil made from the extract of citrus peels.
  
  

  2. Entrust®. The active ingredient in Entrust® is spinosad, which is made from spinosyn, a substance produced from the fermentation of a soil-dwelling bacterium. Entrust is very expensive but it only takes a tiny bit. For example, only 0.159 ounces of the pesticide is needed per gallon of water for a mound drench to treat fire ants. Each mound will require 1-2 gallons of the mixture depending on its size. Best results will be achieved if applied after a recent rainfall and when temperatures are between 65-85°. Due to its high price, this product must be mail-ordered. Entrust® is used by organic growers for control of a number of vegetable pests. A one pound bag of Entrust® can retail for over $500, but this provides way more product than a single grower can use during one growing season which is why growers sometimes go in together to purchase a bag. Contains 80% active ingredient by weight.
  
  Suppliers include Johnny's Selected Seeds and Peaceful Valley Farm Supply.
  
  View the Entrust® label.
  
  

  3. Monterey Garden Insect Spray. This is another OMRI-approved spinosad product but it is only labeled for home garden use. It is not for use on farms. This product is a liquid concentrate with 0.5% active ingredient.
  
  Suppliers include Biocontrol Network, Monterey, and Planet Natural.
  
  View the Monterey Garden Insect Spray label.
  
  
  
• Baits
  
  Baits are granular products that are collected as food by foraging ants.  The bait granules (generally corn grit) are impregnated with oil to make them attractive to the ants as food.   The ants take the bait back to the mound and feed it to the queen and the rest of the colony. According to North Carolina State University entomologist Dr. Hertl, the use of baits can reduce environmental contamination from insecticides since baits contain a very small amount of insecticide. 
  
  Spinosad is the active ingredient in the organically approved baits.
  
  The best time to apply baits is in the early evening. Do not apply baits when the ground is wet as moisture can cause the oils in the bait to become rancid.
  
  Most bait products describe two options for applying the product: 1) broadcast application over a large area and 2) mound application of the bait over the mound and extending to about two feet from the mound.
  
  Mound applications are recommended because they will have the least impact on foraging native ants which directly compete with the imported fire ants. If bait is broadcast over a large area, it is likely to be ingested by foraging native ants and other insects.

Fire ant taking a bait granule back to the nest.

There are at least two organically approved spinosad baits:

1. Ferti-lome® Come and Get It! Fire Ant Killer. This product can be used on lawns and gardens, nurseries, pastures, and fruit & vegetable crops. See label for complete list of labeled use sites. Contains 0.015% active ingredient by weight.

View the Ferti-lome® Come and Get It! Fire Ant Killer label. This on-line label does not have the OMRI label on it but this product is OMRI-approved and the actual bottles on the shelves now do have the OMRI label.

2. Greenlight Fire Ant Control with Conserve®. This product is labeled for use on lawns, around ornamental plants, and in home gardens (one acre or less). Contains 0.015% active ingredient by weight.

These baits are available at both Pittsboro Feed and Country Farm and Home Supply in Pittsboro. Check your local farm and garden stores for supplies near you.

Web Resources

• Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina - North Carolina State University
  
  
• Fire Ant Management in Pastures - North Carolina State University
  
  
• Red Imported Fire Ant Program - North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
  
  
• Sustainable Fire Ant Management - ATTRA
  
  
• A Review of Organic and Other Alternative Methods for Fire Ant Control - Texas Cooperative Extension
  
  
• Potential Biological Control Agents for the Red Imported Fire Ant - Texas Cooperative Extension

This page last updated October 6, 2008.

URL: www.growingsmallfarms.org

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