The bait we will be using to treat the neighborhood is Extinguish Plus. A link to the label can be found by clicking here.
Extension and A&M University recommend using baits to manage fire ants for several reasons. First, baits are attractive to ants. They pick up the granules and take them into the nest to feed the queens, larvae, and other members of the colony. Secondly, when fire ants are present, native (and beneficial) ants seldom pick up the bait or are affected. Fire ants overrun the area, foraging for food, and this prevents native ants from finding baits. In fact, research has shown (and this is research in your neighborhoods based on previous community baiting programs) that native ant populations increase after treating fire ants with baits.
Another reason baits are preferred is because very little pesticide is applied to the area. Because fire ants search for the food and pick it up, less concentrated amounts of pesticide is necessary (as opposed to drenching mounds or applying granules). This means less exposure to you, your family, pets, wildlife, and non-target insects (the ones you don't want to hurt!).
Right now, we all know we are in a drought, and when its dry fire ants move their nest deep into the soil to find moisture. We don't always see the mounds, but they are still there. Fire ants still have to find food, so they are foraging above the surface. They will still find the bait and when it does rain, you hopefully won't see those big mounds pop up.
For ANY questions about the bait, please contact Molly at 210-467-6575 or mekeck@ag.tamu.edu. I'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Friday, February 6, 2009
What is Texas AgriLife Extension?
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Texas AgriLife Extension is an educational agency that provides research based information to the people of Texas. AgriLife Extension is part of the Texas A&M System. All 254 counties of Texas are served by AgriLife Extension in the areas of Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources and Family Consumer Sciences.
In Bexar County, the program areas specicially include: integrated pest management (entomology), horticulture, natural resources, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, youth development (4H), nutrition and food saftey. We provide educational programs to adults and youth on various topics related to those fields. Our goal is to bring the information from the university, turn it into common sense information you can use, and go forth and teach!
You are probably more aware of Extension than you realize. If you have ever heard of the 4H youth program or the Master Gardener or Master Naturalist programs, you have heard of Extension. Those programs are all through Extension, and utilize precious volunteers to keep them going.
If you are interested in hearing more about what we have to offer, please contact us at 210/467-6575 or check out our website: http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/
In Bexar County, the program areas specicially include: integrated pest management (entomology), horticulture, natural resources, agriculture, family and consumer sciences, youth development (4H), nutrition and food saftey. We provide educational programs to adults and youth on various topics related to those fields. Our goal is to bring the information from the university, turn it into common sense information you can use, and go forth and teach!
You are probably more aware of Extension than you realize. If you have ever heard of the 4H youth program or the Master Gardener or Master Naturalist programs, you have heard of Extension. Those programs are all through Extension, and utilize precious volunteers to keep them going.
If you are interested in hearing more about what we have to offer, please contact us at 210/467-6575 or check out our website: http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/
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