In many areas of the state, fire ants have reached nuisance levelsCOLLEGE STATION -- Organic fire ant baits are new on the market this spring and are as effective as conventional baits, giving consumers another option in control.
"The ants collect it like they do any other bait, and it kind of short-circuits their nervous systems," said Dr. Charles Barr, fire ant specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension.
The only active ingredient for organic fire ant baits is spinosad, also known by its trade name, Conserve, Barr said.
Spinosad is considered organic because it is produced from a bacterial fermentation process that produces a toxin, which is extracted and put into bait at very low concentrations. It works by disrupting the ant's nervous system, Barr said.
The spinosad baits works as well as conventional baits, particularly in small areas, or as an individual mound treatment.
"It's a fast-acting bait, similar to Amdro, a conventional bait," he said. Maximum control should be achieved in two to four weeks.
With individual mound treatments, control is usually seen in about a week.
Spinosad products cost about the same as conventional baits at about $8 to $10 per pound, and it can be purchased at garden and lawn outlets.
"You may have to ask for it, however," he said.
The two-step method is ideal for this time of year, whether using organic or unorganic treatmentsThey can be broadcast or used as an individual mound treatment. To broadcast bait -- whether it is organic or conventional -- use a small hand-seeder that lightly scatters the bait at a low rate, he said.
Generally speaking, most people would want to put it out in the fall and spring, because temperatures are generally warm and ants are foraging.
"The only sure-fire way to tell if it's time is to put a little bit of it out and see if the ants come to it," Barr said. "Generally, if it's less than 65 degrees, ants will not be foraging."
Baits should not be put out in the heat of the summer.
"In other words, if you put it out in the morning in the summer, the ants are probably going to quit foraging mid- to late-morning, and the bait will sit out there in the sun all day, the oil (attractant) and toxicant will melt off, and it just won't work as well. During the hot part of the summer, we suggest putting it out in the late afternoon or early evening," he said. "You should be able to tell if there will be any rain by this time, because rain or watering ruins baits."
Organic baits are all fully labeled with the Environmental Protection Agency.
"You do need to follow label directions," he advised.
The spinosad is labeled for ornamental turf and plants, yards, flowerbeds, but cannot be applied any where food is grown or animals are grazed, he said, except for the product Justice, which has a mound treatment pasture label.
Still, broadcast baits of all kinds are safe, if properly applied.
"In fact, it is one of the safest pesticides you can use," he said.
Baits contain low levels of active ingredients, and they are applied at extremely low amounts, anywhere from 1-5 pounds per acre.
"That's not very much material, and for anything to get into that, other than possibly birds, the risk is just extremely low," Barr said.
He suggests home gardeners use the "Two-Step" program. First of all, put out the desired type of broadcast bait, which will be picked up by ants in colonies that cannot be seen yet.
Secondly, since baits act slowly, Barr suggested that nuisance mounds -- for instance those by children's swing sets or by the mailbox -- be given individual treatments, with either conventional or organic products that are available.
"Treat what we call the nuisance mounds...don't go and re-treat every mound out there. You don't need to kill them twice," he said.
Spinosad is available in baits produced under the brand names of Ferti-lome and Justin, as well as others, he said.
Fire ants came into the United States from South America, probably in soil used for ships' ballast. They were accidentally introduced around the 1930s and have been spreading ever since.
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