Contents |
Overview
This module is designed by a team of Fire Ant Community of Practice members to provide training and resource material to eXtension faculty, staff, paraprofessionals, and volunteer trainers on Master Gardening programs related to the imported fire ant. A lot of basic information is already available on Imported Fire Ant eXtension and outreach ideas with youth can be found in the Fire Ants Youth Section. This site is an appropriate place for EMG volunteers and agents working with EMG volunteers to start.
Extension agents requested that this material be multi-functional: both as agent training and MG training. They indicated a need for two levels of Master Gardener training: one that provides the basics in shorthand and the other with more advanced content that could double as agent training. Users will find PowerPoint presentations for each level within this module. These presentations are available as a narrated version that can be used for self learning. Trainers can watch the narrated versions to learn how best to use the presentations in their educational programs.
PowerPoint Presentations
Extension agents and Master Gardeners can use these PowerPoint files to train others about fire ants. Narrated versions of each PowerPoint presentation are included as a teaching guide. The narrated versions can also be used in an individual course of study. Molly Keck, Extension Program Specialist - Integrated Pest Management, Texas AgriLife Extension, narrated the presentations, which are in mp4 format.
Basic Training
Overview of Imported Fire Ants in North America - A Resource for Master Gardeners
Biology of Fire Ants - - A Resource for Master Gardeners
Biological Control of Fire Ants - A Resource for Master Gardeners
Advanced Training
Advanced Fire Ant Biology and Identification - A Resource for Master Gardeners
History of Imported Fire Ants in North America - A Resource for Master Gardeners
Advanced Training on Imported Fire Ant Management -- A Resource for Master Gardeners
Tests to Use Before and After an Event
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System Pre or post-test
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System Answer Key for the Test
- Test your knowledge of RIFA biology
- Test your RIFA control knowledge
- LSU AgCenter RIFA Quiz
Link to Resources for Volunteer Outreach
The following publications may be the most useful to Master Gardeners:
- Fire Ant Control: The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches (an earlier version can be viewed or purchased in hard copy at L- 5496 Fire Ant Control: The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches
- Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas Printable Version ((an earlier version can be viewed or purchased in hard copy at B-6043, Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas
- Management of Imported Fire Ants in Cattle Production Systems Printable Version
- B-6099, Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control (search for "B-6099")
- B-6183, Managing Household Ant Pests (search for "B-6183")
This link contains a much longer list of fire ant publications
Fire Ant Videos
- The Fire Ant Control Made Easy Video is good for on-line viewing, because it is divided into chapters.
- [mms://wms.aces.edu/media/satellite/flanders/hgghp0005.wmv Fire Ant Control Made Easy Video] is the entire video without chapters, that could be played at a training meeting
- Life of a Fire Ant Video provides some good information on fire ant biology
- Fire Ants: Instructional Videos contains lots of video clips, including the decapitating flies in action and many of the video clips from Texas.
Information About Fire Ant Control Materials
- There are many fire ant control chemicals. It is impossible to list them all, as the products change frequently. Not every product is registered in every state. The following sites are updated frequently, and provide guidance on the various control products.
Links for posters, publications, activities:
- Poster: How fire ants establish a colony
- Poster: Life in the mound
- Poster: Biological control of fire ants using phorid flies
- Poster: Using baits to manage fire ants
- Fire Ant eXtension Poster
- Poster: Fire ant biology and impact
- Making Casts of Fire Ant Mounds
- Teacher Versions of Exercises Included in the eXtension Imported Fire Ant Youth Module
Ideas for Visual Aids to Use in Fire Ant Educational Programs
- Empty product bags to read labels and better understand products
- Hand spreader with fire ant bait
- Blue tarp or black plastic, to demonstrate swath width of bait spreader
- Tape measure
- Posters (see above)
- Fire Ant Mound Cast (see above)
- Laptop to demonstrate fire ant eXtension and other useful sites
- Big red ants to attract attention (see Make an Ant in the List of Exercises for the Youth Module above)
- Note to Master Gardeners: Please send photos and ideas for fire ant programs to Kerry Smith at smithkp@auburn.edu. We will post them on this page.
Existing Extension programs that need Master Gardener Volunteers - check with the Master Gardener Coordinator in Your State
- Neighbor to Neighbor
- Adopt A Garden Ctr
- Plant Clinics and Master Gardener Hotlines
- Community-wide Fire Ant Management Programs
