Control of Rough Harvester Ants in Low Water-Use Urban Parks, New Mexico, 1994

Abstract

Abstract Rough harvester ant control was evaluated in an urban forest park in the city of Albuquerque. Treatments were randomized within blocks and replicated 4 times. Ant mounds were checked for activity, selected and marked, and counts made of active ants on and in the clear area of each mound prior to treatment. Treatments were made on 2 June under sunny weather conditions while ants were active (7:30-11:30 a.m.). Broadcast granular treatments were made by applying measured amounts to a 100 ft2 area around each mound with an Ortho® Whirly-Bird® granular applicator. The broadcast spray treatment was applied with a CO2 pressured back-pack, small-plot sprayer with 6 X-4 tips spaced 20 inches apart. At 60 psi and 4 mph the sprayer delivered 5.63 gal of finished spray per acre. However, the 10 ft by 10 ft (100 ft2) area around each plot was sprayed in each direction to give a spray volume of 11.3 gal per acre. Dry Mound (M) treatments were made by sprinkling measured amounts of each form on the mound area around the entrance hole only. The Orthene 75SP mound drench was applied in 3.78 liters of water sprinkled over a 0.37 m2 area around the center of each mound.