1. The Red Imported Fire Ant in California
Dr. Les Greenberg
University of California, Riverside

2. Origin of Imported Fire Ants
South America: Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina

3. U.S. Introduction Introduction to Mobile, Alabama, between 1930-1940
Probably arrived in ship ballast
From there, spread outward to the Southeast and West

4. Fire ant quarantine

6. Potential spread of fire ants
Originally 10° F. isothermal line; now at 0° F.
Limiting factor of moisture
Adaptation to man-made environment

7. U. S. Expansion

10. Mating

11. Fire Ant Dispersal

12. Stinging and Pustule Formation

13. Transformers Shorted

14. Infested Areas of Southern California

15. Locating Infestations
Visual inspection
Luncheon meat
Corn chips

16. Nurseries in Trabuco Canyon

17. Subterranean Trail Under Plastic

18. Flower beds in Los Alamitos

19. Coachella Valley Golf Courses

20. Mounds on Mowed Grass

21. Mound at Sprinkler

22. Exit holes from underground foraging trails on putting green

23. Cleveland National Forest

24. 2500 ft

25. Wetlands Rancho Santa Margarita

26. Infested Areas of the Central Valley

27. Almond Groves in Central Valley

30. Biological Control Agents
Phorid flies: decapitating flies
Protozoan parasites: Thelohania
Other species of ants

31. Phorid Flies

32. Phorid Flies (Decapitating Flies)

33. Phorid Flies

34. Phorid Fly Release

35. Phorid Fly Releases

36. Phorid Fly Releases
Between 1996 and 2002 the decapitating fly, Pseudacteon tricuspis, was released at 56 sites in the southeastern United States
Most releases have been made by the USDA-ARS, CMAVE, Gainesville, FL ( 32 sites) and the University of Texas, Austin (15 sites).

37. Phorid Fly Releases
Overwintering populations of flies were successfully established at 19 sites in 6 states (AL-3, FL- 5, LA-3, MS-1, SC-2, TX-5).

38. Phorid Fly Expansion in Florida

39. Thelohania solenopsae, a microsporidian intracellular parasite
The most common fire ant pathogen in Brazil
It was discovered in the US in 1998 (FL, TX, MS, OK).
Decreases ant’s longevity and reduces colony size

40. Inoculating Mound with Thelohania

41. Insecticide Runoff from Treated Houses

42. Treatments 2007 Treatments used 3 gals fipronil spray perimeter
1 gal fipronil spot
3 gals bifenthrin spray
Combination of fipronil spray and bifenthrin granules
Bait stations with imidacloprid

43. Data From a Typical House
Lawn area measured
Water meter recorded
Runoff estimated
Sprinkler locations mapped
Collection site noted
Time that irrigation is on

44. Water collection dam

45. Dam placement at curb 4-in styrofoam cut into U-shape
Sand bags on styrofoam
Styrofoam and sand bags put inside disposable plastic bags

46. Sample collection

47. 60-ml aquatic pipette

48. Volumetric flow rate (Q), the volume of fluid which passes through a given volume per unit time
Q = A x v, where
A = area (depth and width of water stream)
v = uniform average velocity of water (how long it takes to flow a known distance)
Q*time - gives us an estimate of total water runoff

49. Sample processing
One liter sample collected from one bank of sprinklers per house
Sample stored at 40C
Sample analyzed at laboratory of Dr. Jay Gan in environmental sciences, UC Riverside

50. Schedule 2007
Pretreatment ant evaluations and water samples collected in June
Post-treatment ant evaluations done at 1,2,4,and 8 weeks
Post-treatment water samples collected at 1, 4, and 8 weeks

51. Concentration of fipronil and its byproducts in runoff
desulfinyl
sulfide
sulfone

52. Concentrations of fipronil and bifenthrin in runoff
With Ceriodaphnia LD50s
Fipronil LD50
Bifenthrin LD50

53. 2008 6 different pesticide treatments
3 houses sampled per treatment for insecticide runoff = 18 houses sampled
Sample periods
Pretreatment
1 day
1 week
2 week driveway flush

54. This summer’s fipronil treatments
All fipronil treatments limited to 1 gal
1 gal peripheral spray -- pin stream nozzle
Spot treatments
Same as above but not within 15 ft of street and 5 ft of sidewalks

55. This summer’s bifenthrin treatments
All use 3 gals
Pin stream nozzle perimeter treatment
Traditional fan nozzle perimeter application
Spot treatments with 3 gals, but not within 15 ft of street or 5 ft of sidewalks

56. Conclusions
We can successfully monitor how much insecticide runs off from treated houses due to irrigation
We can test different application techniques to minimize insecticide runoff