Excerpts from Texas pest control Fire Ant Study

October 5, 2010

EVALUATION OF " ORGANIC " PRODUCTS AND HOME REMEDIES

TO ELIMINATE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT COLONIES

Bastiaan M. Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist,

Coordinator, Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project

and Nester, Extension Agent - Integrated Pest Management (Fire Ant

Project)

" Interest in home remedies and " organic " treatments for the red imported

fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, remains high. A number of home remedies such

as soap solutions ( 1987) and instant grits (Garrett, 1993) have been

proposed or supported with anecdotal observations. However, few have actually

been scientifically evaluated in formal field trials. Some products (Erath Earth

Orange Oil, Erath Earth Gathering and Holding co., Hico, TX and Ridants®,

CedarCide Industries, Inc., Spring, TX) are not pesticides registered by the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but are sold as " elixirs relating to

plants and insects " or are promoted to control fire ants while claiming to be

exempt from registration. "

" The series of trials reported herein were conducted to generate field data to

align product or treatment performance with consumer expectations. Results are

not intended to provide a basis for the endorsement or recommendation for use by

the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research & Management Project, the Texas ative

Extension or the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at The Texas A & M

University System. "

" Trial 3 Result: Ridants, applied as directed, appears to repel fire ant

colonies from treated sites within three days of application. However, colonies

do not appear to be eliminated. When a higher concentrated cedar oil product

(CedarCide Pet, Horse & Livestock Concentrate) was used, treated fire ant mounds

split as well as relocated, resulting in more fire ant mounds near the one

treated initially. Use of this product for managing fire ants should be

carefully thought through. As a repellent, this product may be useful for

rendering certain locations, such as potting media, temporarily fire ant free.

However, resulting fire ant colony relocation and splitting following treatment

makes use of these treatments unlikely for use to reduce fire ant populations. "

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