EFFECTIVENESS OF SPOT INSECTICIDE TREATMENTS FOR RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) CONTROL

Spot treatments with Dursban 2EC, Optem PT-600, Bengal Fire Ant Killer, and Orthene 75S were evaluated for control of imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, colonies. Because imported fire ant colonies frequently relocate their nest following insecticide applications, a field trial utilizing an experimental design which compensated for colony relocation was conducted. Results of this trial showed that, in addition to frequent colony relocation, large numbers of individual ants succumbed to several of the insecticides under trial. However, many ant colonies survived some treatments, and actual colony mortality ranged from 11.1% with Orthene 758 to 80.4% with Dursban 2EC 8 wks after treatment.