New fire ant treatment tested

USDA-APHIS recently released the results of an Environmental Assessment regarding treatment strategies for fire ants.

The study suggests that the treatment manual should be updated to include additional options for treating balled-and-burlapped nursery stock and grass sod being shipped from infested areas. It also, describes how B&B drenches can be done in a manner that would reduce the number of necessary pesticide applications and the quantity of the pesticide used.

Current approved treatments for balled-and-burlapped nursery stock is limited to the use of one insecticide, chlorpyrifos, and availability of that insecticide is limited, with only a handful of EPA approved labels with pest, commodity and required quarantine level effective rates of application.

Bifenthrin immersion treatment for balled-and-burlapped nursery stock: The Center for Plant Health Science Technology, along with Tennessee State University, have evaluated the use of bifenthrin as an immersion treatment for balled-and-burlapped nursery stock for 2-4 years. The results found that a dip rate of 0.115 lb ai/100 gal water provided 6 months of residual activity against IFA. Thus, CPHST recommended the addition of this treatment option to the
Treatment Manual.

There is a public comment period regarding the recommended changes that is open until May 6, 2013