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Orchard Fire Ant Management

Last Updated: March 11, 2010

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Fire ant mound near pecan tree trunk in orchard.
Debate continues on the impact of imported fire ants on orchard crops. While the ants can sting field workers, damage drip irrigation systems, and aggravate certain pest problems such as aphid outbreaks, fire ants are beneficial in orchards because they prey on numerous chewing insect pests. Their foraging and nest building activities also can reduce soil compaction. Where the decision is made to reduce fire ant populations, alternatives for treatment include broadcast-applied bait products such as methoprene (Extinguish) and pyriproxyfen (Esteem). Additional products such as those containing fenoxycarb (Award) or abamectin (Clinch) have been registered for nonbearing orchards. Orchard floors can also be treated with some contact insecticide formulations to provide temporary elimination of ant activity on the soil surface. For example, the contact insecticide chlorpyrifos suppresses fire ant foraging for about 4 weeks.

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