Control of Red Harvester Ants with Drenches and Powder Concentrates, 1985

Abstract

Evaluation of red harvester ant control was conducted near Stillwater, OK. on 16 acres of open pasture land. Treatments were randomized and replicated 5 times. Ant mounds were checked for activity and marked prior to the start of the test. Treatments were made on 18 Jun. Mounds were checked for visible ant activity at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 12 wk after treatment. On the 16 wk, all mounds were checked for visible ant activity by digging to a depth of 1 ft beneath the mound. Treatments were applied over each nest opening and covered an area of approximately 4 ft in diam. Drenches consisted of applying the finished spray from a 5-gal bucket, while powders were applied by evenly distributing the material over the surface of the mound. All drenches were applied in an excavated hole 5 inches in diameter and 6 inches deep in the center of the mound. Rainfall in the area during the test was: Jun, 6.4 inches, Jul, 2.4 inches, Aug, 2.3 inches, Sep, 6.0 inches, Oct, 4.6 inches for a total of 21.7 inches. The various drench concentrations will be evaluated for long term activity suppression which will run into the spring of 1986.