A Comparison of Two Methods of Application on the Effectiveness Of Ascend Pt-370 (Abamectin 0.011% Ai) and Amdro (Hydramethylnonc 0.73% Ai) Ant Baits on Red Imported Fire Ant Mounds, 1992

Ascend PT-370, supplied by Whitmire Research Laboratories, Inc. (St. Louis, MO), and Amdro were applied for RIFA control by two methods: sprinkled on the surface of the mound following label directions, and distributed around the mound (without disturbing the surface of the mound) for a distance of 2 feet. Prior to treatment, a wire stake was inserted into the center of each of 60 mounds. The wire was vibrated as to disturb the surface of the mound and the number of ants responding to this disturbance within the first 30 s was counted. Both pretreatment and posttreatment ant activity was evaluated on a qualitative scale of 0 to 3 with 0 indicating no activity, 1 indicating less than 10 ants responding, 2 indicating 10-100 ants responding, and 3 indicating more than 100 ants responding. This pretreatment activity was used to block the mounds into treatment groups. Activity counts were conducted at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 DAT. There were 12 mounds in each treatment and 12 untreated control mounds.