Project Number: 6402-22320-008-02
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 20, 2011
End Date: Jul 19, 2013

Objective:
The imported fire ants are serious pests affecting humans, wildlife, crops, and livestock, as well as a health hazard to humans. The goal of this project will be the development of management tools for a sustainable reduction of imported fire ant populations. To achieve this goal a proactive area-wide program will be implemented to suppress imported fire ant populations and to end the spread of infestations. A regional management program developed with Mississippi State University will include product testing, natural history, ecology, and biological control.

Approach:
Cultural, biological, and chemical control methods need to be integrated into proactive, regional fire ant management programs. New bait technologies utilizing synthetic chemicals and microbials will be evaluated to identify the most effective treatments for implementation into large scale programs. Native species of ants will be inventoried to compare diversity of native ant species with abundance of imported fire ants either naturally or under different management strategies. Area-wide programs will be implemented through cooperation with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Information will be coordinated with the ARS Information Office and the Mississippi State University Extension Service.