By Shala Watson
Multimedia Writer

Fire ants are a growing nuisance across Texas in urban, agricultural and wildlife areas. The mild winter and increased moisture this spring have compounded the problem as populations seem to grow.

As the fiery pests march across farms and ranches, they cause damage to equipment, feed and hay and harm livestock.

Fire ants are of biggest concern during spring when new livestock are hitting the ground, according to Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities.

Ranchers should monitor their livestock closely during calving season to reduce the threat of injury or death.

Young animals in general are also more susceptible to fire ant bites and injuries because of their lack of mobility.

“They’ll get into their eyes, into their mouth, into the really soft tissues, vital organs and can cause blindness quite routinely,” Tomascik said. “If calves or lambs aren’t able to get up and move from those areas quick enough, then the stress that comes with blindness or injury from the large number of fire ants could be detrimental to the animal.”

Fire ant mounds can also interfere with farm operations, causing additional wear and tear on equipment and costing time. Some mounds can reach more than a foot tall and cause damage to blades on hay cutters and mowers.

Loss of feed can also be a concern as fire ants seek refuge in grains and square and round hay bales.

Tomascik noted farmers and ranchers should pay close attention to round bales and even hay stored in a barn.

The pests can also be found making their home in electrical sockets.

Before applying fire ant treatments to fields, landowners should determine the highest priority areas to treat. Large acreage may not be economical to treat.

Fire ant treatments can cost between $10-$15 an acre, according to Dr. Michael E. Merchant, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service professor and Extension urban entomologist. But mound to mound treatments are more expensive. He said if you only have a few mounds, it’s economical and effective to treat fire ants this way.

Mound treatments may be more feasible than broadcast treatments for smaller areas like water pump boxes, electrical equipment, houses and barns, Merchant added.

“If they have a problem with a really bad infestation of ants, the primary thing they can do is a pasture treatment in some form of an approved pesticide to push back the population,” Tomascik said. “If it’s in the more vulnerable stages of production during calving or lambing, move those animals away from those infested areas as best you can.”

Ranchers can also set aside a calving pasture and treat that specific area.

Broadcast treatments are the most economical and environmentally friendly way to manage fire ants on larger areas, Merchant said.

He recommends using broadcast treatments in areas like East Texas, where fire ants are well entrenched and for larger pastures.

Livestock do not have to be removed from the area if a bait is labeled for use in pastures and hayfields, according to Dr. Kathy Flanders, Extension entomologist and professor at Auburn University. She said the active ingredients in baits are used in very low doses that are far below what a grazing animal would be exposed to.

The best time of the year to apply fire ant treatments is between May and September. Applications can be made throughout the daytime hours during the spring when temperatures are relatively cool. But during the summer and as soil temperatures rise above 90-95 degrees, it’s more effective to apply a bait in the evening, according to Merchant.

Tomascik recommends farmers and ranchers reach out to their local Extension agent to discuss fire ant treatment options or visit http://fireant.tamu.edu to research fire ants and control options.