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Red Imported Management Considerations for Beekeepers

Bastiaan M. Drees, Fire Ant Project Director Department of , Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta hives are located. For Step 1, broadcast Buren (: Formicidae), can menace a conventional bait-formulated and beekeepers. Worker ants can invade product. For example, those containing hives and feed on , bee pupae and abamectin, hydramethylnon, developing bee larvae (protein), occasionally fenoxycarb, pyriproxifen, or s- destroying weakened hives. They also sting methoprene once or twice per repeatedly and in high numbers when their over an area of about ½ to 1 acre colonies or food sources are disturbed or around the hives (see B-6099). Then, threatened. Beekeepers can be attacked during for Step 2, treat individual mounds to hive maintenance operations. quickly eliminate only those nuisance The infests the eastern ant mounds posing an immediate two-thirds of Texas. This can be moved to hazard. This step can be taken at any new, noninfested areas on such articles as nursery time, but usually beginning 2 to 7 days stock, sod, hay and bee hives. Counties in infested after broadcasting bait. Individual ant states are under quarantine by the United States mound treatments are formulated as Department of Agriculture (USDA). Moving granules, liquids, dusts, fumigants and imported fire ants out of these areas is prohibited. bait (see FAPFS036). The quarantine regulations are enforced in Texas 2. (Optional). The outer surface of the by the Texas Department of Agriculture pallets or stand elevating the hives can (TDA)(see “Maps” and “Links” sections on the be carefully treated by applying a web site, http://fireant.tamu.edu). nonvolatile, long-residual contact To prevent losses from red imported fire ants, . Specialty paint-on or paint- beekeepers should monitor areas where bee hives additive formulations have been are to be located and when they remain on site. available to produce a chemical barrier Identify there correctly. Avoid attracting on treated surfaces. A registered foraging worker ants to hives by leaving dead contact granular or liquid contact brood and other material near bee hives. Keep bee insecticide also can be applied to the colonies healthy and vigorous. To discourage ant ground around the hives, beneath colonies from moving into bee hives, elevate the pallets or plastic ground covers. hives several inches on timbers, bricks or stones. Preferably, treat before moving the bee Prevent imported fire ants from spreading by hives to the location. To prevent bees inspecting hives and eliminating the ants before from contacting treated surfaces, apply moving the bees to new locations. late in the evening or early If insecticides are to be used near bee hives, be in the morning when bees are not careful not to poison the bees. active. Read product labels and use insecticides and formulations least Chemical control options: toxic to bees. 1. Treat heavily infested areas around hives using the Two–Step Method (L-5070). Use products registered for the site where

Fire Ant Plan Fact Sheet #019 fireant/fapfs019.2002rev June 2002 revision The Texas Imported Fire Ant Research & For more information regarding fire ant Management Project, funded by the Texas management, see Extension publications B-6043, legislature in 1997, supports the search for Managing Red Imported Fire Ants in Urban improved sustainable and management Areas; B-6076, Managing Red Imported Fire Ants solutions for this pest. Researchers and educators in Agriculture; B-6099, Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control; or L-5070 The Texas Two-Step at The Texas A&M University System, which Method Do-It-Yourself Fire Ant Control for includes the Texas Agricultural Experiment Homes and Neighborhoods. Also visit our web Station and Texas Cooperative Extension, The site at http://fireant.tamu.edu. University of Texas, Texas Tech University and the Texas Department of Agriculture, are working The information given herein is for educational purposes only. together to eliminate the imported fire ant as a Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no serious pest. endorsement by Texas Cooperative Extension or the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station is implied.

Acknowledgments Educational programs conducted by Texas Cooperative The author is grateful for input from Paul Jackson, Extension serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic State Entomologist, and for review comments and level, race, color, , religion, disability or national origin. input from Dr. John G. Thomas, Extension Entomologist Emeritus.

Fire Ant Plan Fact Sheet #019 fireant/fapfs019.2002rev June 2002 revision