Introduction #
Recent EPA driven label changes have made Top Choice a restricted use material. For this reason we have modified our fire ant control program to utilize Advion Fire Ant Bait in place of Top Choice. The active ingredient in Advion Fire Ant Bait is considered to be low risk which makes it a more attractive choice than Top Choice which contains the active ingredient fipronil. Advion Fire Ant Bait can be used to control fire ants provided we are not treating the same area with any other material (insecticide, fungicide or herbicide) at the same time. Read all of the information below.
The active ingredient in Advion is indoxacarb, which offers a unique mode of action compared to other active ingredients. Once the bait is ingested, the ant’s own internal enzymes change the molecular structure and attributes of indoxacarb, converting it into a more potent highly active compound that targets the insect’s nervous system, ultimately resulting in death. The outcome of this unique mode of action delivers results for outstanding ant control.
Generally, it takes only about a week to kill a mound versus a few weeks with Amdro or Extinguish. Typically, according to the manufacturer, once all of the colonies are eliminated, without any residual activity it takes about 12-16 weeks before mounds may re-appear. Competing ants will make it harder for the fire ants to rapidly return but rainfall and human activity can always cause new colonies to return.
SERVICE CYCLE #
This protocol is a quarterly service cycle (4 identical services) for the entire property.
MOUND APPLICATION OF ADVION GRANULAR FIRE ANT BAIT #
Do your best to find all of the mounds every time you treat.
Do not disturb the mounds. Spot treat every ant mound you can find with Advion Fire Ant Bait at the rate of .5oz per mound (sprinkle the bait around the mound, not onto it); .5oz is equivalent to one level cap full of the Advion fire ant bait container.
Lawn Application of Advion Granular Fire Ant Bait #
APPLICATION TECHNIQUE #
After baiting around mounds, apply Advion Granular Fire Ant Bait to the lawn. The rate of bait to apply is .5 oz. per 1000 square feet. That is not much bait, but it does not take much to control fire ants. Wipe out the residue of any other products from your Scotts handheld spreader with a paper towel. Put the required amount of bait into the handheld spreader. Set the spreader on #2.
As in the representation to the left, each turn will be a 12-foot turn. Start at one edge of the lawn and use the following technique for applying Advion Fire Ant Bait. Squeeze the spreader trigger, crank the handle 3 times close the trigger, walk five paces in a line, stop, squeeze the trigger and crank the handle 3 times. Use this technique until you have finished that run. This application procedure will apply bait to a 10-foot-wide area per placement or stop. Do not apply Advion Fire Ant Bait to treatment areas where residual applications have been made, or the ants may not accept the bait.
Advion bait is moist and will form a void at the spreader opening so you must shake the spreader periodically. DO NOT overlap your passes. You are applying bait, not fertilizer, and the ants will come to the bait. Instruct the customer not to water for at least 24 hours. The bait is weather resistant, but it would be best for the ants to feed on the bait before it gets wet.
EXTRA SERVICE PROTOCOL #
Occasionally the customer may find and report new fire ant mounds or activity. These can start due to a number of reasons such as excessive rain, disturbance of the treated area by man or by fallen tree limbs, etc. We will return as we do for any fire ant complaint call and will treat all mounds found in the area under guarantee with .5 oz of Advion Fire Ant Bait per mound. Do not apply bait to the lawn at this time. Be sure to apply bait immediately surrounding the mound but not directly onto the mound. Control should be expected within a week. Follow-up weekly until activity ceases.
Never under-estimate the importance of your fire ant control. Fire ants are dangerous especially for allergic persons or children.
RATE CARD INFORMATION #
Annual fire ant treatments are sold utilizing the Massey Services Special Service Agreement. The details of the service are to be written in the “Special Instructions” section of the agreement. The yearly rate for the above service is the same as the Top Choice Program at $30.00 per 1000 square feet treated and is to be paid in advance or on the day of the initial treatment. The initial service and three quarterly fire ant services are to be set up in Service Pro with PV assigned at $7.50 per 1000 square feet treated.