Evaluation of Boric Acid Formulations for Control of Red Imported Fire Ants, 1984

Abstract

Five numbered compounds containing boric acid were evaluated for use as mound drenches for control of red imported fire ants in South Carolina. These studies were conducted in 2 pastures, 1 in Boykin and the second in Santee. In the first pasture 14 circular plots (100 ft diam) were delineated with the location of fire ant mounds in each plot mapped. A minimum of 5 mounds were present in each plot. The activity of each mound was also determined by slightly prodding the mound with a thin metal wire and then estimated by the number of ants coming to the surface using the following scale: 0 = inactive mound, 1 = 1-100 ants, 2 = 101-1000 ants and 3 = greater than 1000 ants. To each of the 14 plots, 1 of 7 treatments was assigned randomly. The concentration of each EI formulation was determined by adding 70 ml of compound to 1 gal of water as instructed by the company. One gal of solution was applied to each mound. Treatments in field 1 were applied on 18 Jun 84. In the second study conducted at Santee, the same procedure was followed except that EI formulations were doubled, 140 ml in 1 gal of water. Treatments in field 2 were applied on 13 Oct 84.