Released April 21, 2008

Fire ants across the Southeast have taken advantage of banks and bottoms of recreational ponds left dry by last year’s drought. A specialist in recreational pond management with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System says the pest will move into these areas because of the bare soils by drought and the availability of water.

Dr. Rusty Wright says this scenario will be common across Alabama and the South this year. It is also a scenario fraught with potential problems.

“The ants cannot move away from the rapidly increasing water as the pond refills,” says Wright. “As their burrows flood, the fire ants escape to the surface where they grab on to each other forming floating rafts or clumps of ants.”

These rafts are often seen in the aftermath of floods. When the rafts drift to shore, the colony can build a new nest on higher ground.

Wright says that while these rafts of biting insects pose a clear risk to anyone wading in flood waters, they can also cause problems for fish populations.

“They can also cause problems in a refilling pond. Fish in the pond, particularly bluegill, will actively feed on fire ants floating on the pond surface. This often happens when the ant colony swarms during reproduction in the spring, and the spent winged males or drones fall to the pond surface. Eating these ants can kill the fish. “

Wright and Dr. Lawrence Graham, an Auburn University entomologist specializing in fire ants agree that controlling fire ants around the pond is a good idea.

Graham cautions pond owners to read fire ant control product labels carefully.

“Some insecticides can be extremely toxic to fish,” says Graham. “Fire ant baits are the best-suited control products for use around ponds.”

He adds that it is important to read the label for the correct buffer width between the product and the pond edge.

“Ants will forage up out of the buffer into treated areas and pick up the bait,” says Graham. “They will return to the nest and pass it to the colony’s queen. While baits take up to a few weeks to kill the colony, they really are the best choice for usearound ponds and other water sources.”

Wright adds that ponds will get more use if the stinging pests are controlled.

“Controlling fire ants will make fishing around the pond a more carefree experience as well.”

For more information on controlling fire ants, read the Extension publication “ANR-175, Imported Fire Ants in Lawns, Turf, and Structures.” It is available through the county Extension offices and online at http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0175/.

Another excellent resource on fire ant management can be found at http://www.eXtension.org. The eXtension fire ant resource area has information about safe and effective methods of fire ant control, including a Fire Ant Control Made Easy Video and a Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas Learning Lesson. Consumers can also use the Customized Fire Ant Management Decision Tool to help develop a personalized fire ant management plan.

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http://www.aces.edu/department/extcomm/npa/newsline/archives/003618.php

Contact: Margaret Lawrence, (334) 844-5687, lawremc@aces.edu