Sumitomo Chemical offers two ant products that control red imported fire ants quickly and effectively.
As the fire ant infestation continues to spread across southeast Queensland and into northern New South Wales, it’s important for pest managers to have a clear fire treatment strategy for each type of customer. According to Charles McClintock, business manager at Sumitomo Chemical, a program approach is the way to go.
“Fire ant treatments are rarely a one-off treatment. Although the initial infestation may be quickly eliminated, the level of infestation in southeast Queensland means re-invasion from surrounding areas is likely within a few months. An ongoing treatment program is therefore required to keep a property fire ant free,” said Mr McClintock.
Homeowners requiring a fire ant treatment generally demand instant results, to protect their family and pets. To this end, direct nest injection is recommended for readily identifiable nests. Of course, in infested areas there are often a range of different nest sizes, some of which will be small, with no mound visible. As a result, a direct nest injection treatment should also be followed up with a broadcast bait treatment, to ensure all nests are eliminated from an area.
h and Distance Plus are two of the key bait products used in the fire ant eradication program. It is important to understand their mode of action to manage customer expectations and select the best product depending on the situation.
Synergy Pro is often used in situations where faster control is required. It’s a combination of hydramethylnon and pyriproxyfen, which means it kills ants directly as well as acting as an insect growth regulator at lower doses. Typically, Synergy Pro will eliminate nests in 1-2 weeks, as long as sufficient bait is applied. In contrast, Distance Plus only contains the insect growth regulator, pyriproxyfen. Although it quickly sterilises the queen (so she cannot lay any more eggs) and developing ants die as they go through the pupation process, mature workers are largely unaffected and so die of old age. It may therefore take large nests a couple of months to die out, although smaller nests will be eliminated more quickly.
For initial eradication treatments (or when bait treatments are required to supplement direct nest injection), Synergy Pro with its faster mode of action is the recommended option. However, in sensitive accounts or in areas when food is being grown, Distance Plus with its unscheduled poison classification should be used.
As part of a program approach, ongoing treatments are required to deal with re-invasion events. Reinvasion can occur through the colony budding from polygynous colonies in surrounding areas or through the arrival of alates from nuptial flights, typically from monogynous colonies, which could be up to a couple of kilometres away. Typically, these budding events and nuptial flights occur during the warmer months, when the mature colonies are active. At the start of these re-invasion events, these new colonies will be small and hard to detect. Therefore, regular treatments as part of a program will eliminate these founding colonies before they become established. A bait application in spring, summer and autumn will eliminate any new nests.
From a technology and cost point of view, baits are the best option to eliminate any hard-to-detect nests. For these maintenance treatments, either Synergy Pro or Distance Plus are suitable, as speed of performance is not critical.
The same approach can be taken when dealing with schools, sports grounds and public spaces. Synergy Pro is best used for initial eradication with either product an option for ongoing maintenance programs. For businesses under movement restrictions (e.g. landscaping and building companies), a more detailed program is required tailored to their particular situation, taking into account the level of material movement and associated risks. Often spray treatments are required immediately prior to any goods movement to ensure the material is fire ant free, but baits can be used to provide the ongoing control of fire ants on the property.
With both Synergy Pro and Distance Plus effective on a range of lawn ants, such as green-head ants, customers get additional benefits from their use in fire ant treatments.
Taking a program approach to fire ant treatment not only provides customers with ongoing protection but delivers performance in line with the objectives of the National Fire Ant Eradication program. Of course, it’s good for business too, developing an ongoing relationship with your customers.
