A Survey of Fire Ant Infestation in Traffic Signal Systems
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TECHNICAL REPORT STANDARD TITLE PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. TX/8} /750. 1135-1 l--:--:::-:---c-::·~-c---------..L.-·--------------+~S-. ~R-ep-o-rt~D-a-te------------·· 4. Title and Subtitle November 1986 A Survey of Fire Ant Infestation in Traffic I-:---=--:--------=-:------- Signal Systems 6. Performing Organization Code .-·-7.-A-u-th·o-rl-s)--.. --.. --------·---------------r-;B:--. Performing Organization Report No. Carroll J. Messer, S. Bradleigh Vinson and Research Report 1135-1 Greg A. B~r~o~u~w~e~r-------------------tc;-;;---:::---:-:-:~~-,--------~ 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Wark Unit Na. I Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No. College Station, Texas 77843 Study No. 2-18-86-1135 ______________ ___, 13. Type al Report and Period Covered Sponsoring Agency Name and Address Interim - Ju 1y 1986 Texas State Department of Highways and Public November 1986 fTransportation; Transportation Planning Division f-7--------------------- I P.O. Box 5051 14. Sponsoring Agency Code A11stin. T~xas 78763 15. Supplementary Notes Research performed in cooperation with DOT, FHWA. Research Study Title: Prevention of Fire Ant Damage to Signal Control. 16. Abstract This report is the first in a series of reports expected to prepared on research being conducted to develop practical treatments for preventing imported fire ants from damaging traffic signal systems. This initial report describes the findings of a one-week field survey conducted in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Additional information from Texas was added to the survey. The survey found that fire ants are a concern to all agencies contacted, including f0ur cities and five state departments of transportation. A wide variety of insecticides are being used. The report contains a list of these treatments, evaluates them in a preliminary sense, and recommends a future course of research to be pursued within this study to achieve contract objectives. This research is sponsored with state funds by the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation in Austin, Texas. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Traffic Signals, Fire Ants, Signal No restrictions. This document is Maintenance. available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road Sorinafield. Virainia 22161 19. Security Classil. (al this report) 20. Security Classil. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 21 Form DOT F 1700.7 ca-&91 A SURVEY OF FIRE ANT INFESTATION IN TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS by Carroll J. Messer Research Engineer S. Bradleigh Vinson Professor of Entomology and Greg A. Brouwer Research Associate Research Report 1135•1 Research Study Number 2•18-86•1135 "Prevention of Fire Ant Damage to Signal Control" Sponsored by State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (State Funded) Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843 November 1986 ABSTRACT This report is the first in a series of reports expected to be prepared on research being conducted to develop practical treatments for preventing imported fire ants from damaging traffic signal systems. This initial report describes the findings of a one~week field survey conducted in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Additional information from Texas was added to the survey. The survey found that fire ants are a concern to all agencies contacted, including four cities and five state departments of transportation. A wide variety of insecticides are being used. The report contains a list of these treatments, evaluates them in a preliminary sense, and recommends a future course of research to be pursued within this study to achieve contract objectives. KEY WORDS: Traffic Signals, Fire Ants, Signal Maintenance • .. ii .. SUtfotARY The fire ant has recently become a potentially serious problem to the security and efficacy of traffic signal systems in Texas. Fire ants are reported to have gotten inside the signal conduit and to have eaten the insulation off the wires causing a short circuit which causes an unexpected outage of the traffic signal. Fire ants are reported to have also gotten inside the electrical power cable sheathing and to have created a void whereby water could get inside the waterproof sheathing and cause a short which could al so cause an outage of the signal. Fire ants al so have gotten inside the flasher controller inside the cabinet of the control box and caused a short that could also knock the system out of service. In response to the observed fire ant infestation of traffic signals in Texas, State Oepartmen t of Highways and Pub 1 i c Transportation (SOHPT) initiated and sponsored a research project entitled, "Prevention of Fire Ant Damage to Signal Control," Project 2'-18-86•1135, to develop short-term and long-term solutions to fire ant infestation of traffic signal systems in Texas. A twenty-six month research program was begun July 1, 1986 to address the fire ant infestation problem and develop recommended treatments and so 1 ut ion s. Imp 1 em en tat i o n g u i d e 1 in e s and 1 i ke 1 y e ff e c ts on per son ne 1 and impacts on the environment were desired. This report is the first in a series of reports expected to be prepared on research being conducted to develop practical treatments for preventing imported fire ants from damaging traffic signal systems. This initial report describes the findings of a one-week field survey conducted in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Additional information from Texas was added to the survey. The survey found that fire ants are a concern to all agencies contacted, including four cities and five state departments of transportation. A wide variety of insecticides are being used. The report contains a list of these treatments, evaluates them in a preliminary sense, suggest some interim actions, and recommends a future course of research to be pursued within this study to achieve contract objective. Implementation The findings of the survey can be used by SDHPT traffic and maintenance personnel as relevant information to guide their selection and application of insecticides for treating the problem of fire ant infestation at traffic s igna 1 cabinets. The potential benefits accruing to the State of Texas are sizeable. It is estimated that at least one problem maintenance call will be eliminated every five years at an estimated savings of $200 per cal 1. As there are about 15,000 signals in Texas, this results in an estimated annual savings of $600,000 per year. Over a ten-year period, the potential benefit-cost ratio for this study would be 33-to-l. This savings does not include reductions in potential tort liability claims. ... iii .. Acknowledgement The authors wish to thank the state departments of transportation located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi for their time and information during the preparation and execution of the field survey. The following state individuals merit special acknowledgment: Charles Alexander Alabama Dept. of Highways Wesley Jackson Alabama Dept. of Highways Gary Price Florida Dept. of Transportation Grady Bryan Georgia Dept. of Transportation John Vaughn Louisiana Dept. of Transportation Fred Kyle, Jr. Mississippi Dept. of Highways Four cities al so participated in the survey. Personnel in these cities which actively contributed to the survey were as follows: Mark Ba i1 ey Jackson, Mississippi Robert Brown Jackson, Mississippi Harvel Buford Mobile, Alabama William Smith Mobile, Alabama Tony Blankenship Montgomery, Alabama Ector Matherly Montgomery, Alabama Stan 1ey Ferguson Talahassee, Florida Mr. Stan Swinton of D18-T of SDHPT serves as the study technical coordinator. He has ably served to identify the research problem needed and to assist in the preparation of the research approach for addressing the problem of fire ant infestation. Disclaimer The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the opinions, findings and conclusions presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Federal Highway Administration, the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, the Texas Transportation Institute, or the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. This report does not constitute a standard, specification or regulation. ... iv - TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction • • • • • • • • • • . ••• Pare Problem Background •••••• 1 Research Program • • ••• 1 Objectives of Report ••••• 1 Southern States Survey •••• 2 Survey Results • • • • 3 Fire Ant Experience . 3 Traffic Signal Design and Construction 3 Signal Maintenance . 5 Fire Ant Contra l . 5 Texas Experience . 6 Critical Evaluation of Present Imported Fire Ant Control Procedures 8 The Problem • ·• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Quick Remov a1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Residual Insecticide • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8 Special or Local Insecticide Applications • • • • • • 10 Preliminary Reconmendations As A Result of Survey • 11 Implementation ••••••••••••• 11 Future Research • • • • • • • • • 13 Research Program • • • • • • • • • 14 Observations . 14 Equipment • • •• . 14 Personnel •••••••••••• . 14 ... v ... I. INTRODUCTION Problem Background The imported fire ant has rapidly spread across the southern United States. The ant entered the