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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Biological Control of Pests Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187358
Title: DISTRIBUTION AND SIZE OF IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) MOUNDS IN RECENTLY INVADED BALL-AND-BURLAP NURSERIES IN TENNESSEE

Author
item Vogt, James
item OLIVER, JASON - TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSIT

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2006
Publication Date: 10/1/2006
Citation: Vogt, J.T., Oliver, J.A. Distribution and size of imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) mounds in recently invaded ball-and-burlap nurseries in tennessee. Journal of Entomological Science. 20063

Interpretive Summary: Surveying for imported fire ant mounds in plant nurseries is a critical part of control efforts, research activities, and regulatory measures. In recently-invaded areas such as the ball-and-burlap nursery region in south-central Tennessee, very little is known about where fire ants occur in nurseries and how large their mounds are. Researchers with the USDA, ARS Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, in cooperation with the Tennessee State University Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center, discovered that fire ant mounds are more abundant along road cuts in nurseries than within planted areas, but mounds in planted areas tend to be larger and may serve as a source of re-infestation for nursery areas that are more accessible for insecticide application. These findings will help nursery operators choose appropriate bait application methods for applying bait to less accessible areas, and will guide regulatory personnel in formulating effective sampling methods for locating fire ant mounds.

Technical Abstract: A study was undertaken to describe size and distribution of imported fire ant mounds in south-central Tennessee ball-and-burlap plant nurseries, to (1) improve survey and control measures and (2) assess the feasibility of airborne remote sensing for mound detection. Mounds were most numerous along roadsides and road cuts. Mounds in planted areas were larger than mounds along roadsides and road cuts, and mounds in open, grassy areas were of intermediate size (mean above-ground volume = 8.14, 4.36 and 5.32 L, respectively). An examination of mound size distribution in nursery landscapes indicated colony age-structure may not be consistent between landscape-date combinations, and mean mound size was smaller in July 2004 than in October 2003. Implications for bait application methods, ground surveys, and remote sensing are discussed.