Red Imported Fire Ant Control in Bahiagrass Pastures, 1996

Abstract

Abstract Test 1, located in Atmore, AL, was a RCB design with two replications, each block being in two adjacent, closely grazed bahiagrass paddocks on sandy, Coastal Plain soil. Plot size was 5-8 acres per plot, dictated by the irregular shape of the paddocks. The insecticide Amdro was applied in late afternoon on 16 May 1995 with a Solo brand backpack mistblower, in 20 ft wide swaths (within-swath rate of 3 lb bait/acre), alternating with 20 ft untreated swaths. Treatments were evaluated 16 May, 14 Jun, and 12 Oct 1995, and 7 Aug 1996, by counting number of active fire ant mounds in one, 60 ft by 200 ft transect, randomly located in each plot. The same transect was used on each evaluation in 1995. A new transect was located in each plot in 1996. The transect ran across swaths in the treated plots. A thin rod was inserted with minimal disturbance into each mound, to determine colony activity. Test 2, located in Brewton, AL, was a CRB design with two replications in a bahiagrass pasture. The paddocks were on sandy, Coastal Plain soil. Plot size ranged from 1.5-2.5 acres per plot, dictated by the irregular shape of the pasture. The insecticide was applied in afternoon on 30 Apr 1996 with a Herd GT77-A spreader, at a within swath rate of 1.5 lb bait/acre. Insecticide was applied in alternating 30 ft wide swaths, or as a conventional broadcast treatment. Treatments were evaluated 24 May and 7 Aug 1996, using same methods as in Test 1.