By: Bastiaan M. Drees
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), can menace bees and beekeepers (see Honey bee diseases and pests: a practical guide). Worker ants can invade bee hives and feed on pollen, bee pupae, and developing bee larvae (protein), occasionally destroying weakened hives. They also sting repeatedly and in high numbers when their colonies or food sources are disturbed or threatened, putting beekeepers at risk of attack while maintaining their hives.
Red imported fire ants infest the eastern two- thirds of Texas (see Geographic Distribution of Fire Ants). They can move to new, non infested areas on such articles as nursery stock, sod, hay, and beehives. Counties in infested areas are under quarantine by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and moving imported fire ants out of these areas is prohibited. In Texas, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) enforces quarantine regulations (see Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Map and Information for Texas Residents).
To prevent losses from red imported fire ants, beekeepers should
- Monitor areas where beehives are to be located and also after they are on site (see Survey-Based Management of Red Imported Fire Ants).
- Correctly identify the ants at the hive location (see Texas Pest Ant Identification: An Illustrated Key to Common Pest Ants and Fire Ant Species).
- Avoid attracting foraging worker ants to hives by leaving dead brood and other material near bee hives (see What do fire ants eat?).
- Prevent the spread of imported fire ants by inspecting hives and eliminating fire ants before moving the bees to new locations.
- Be careful not to apply insecticides directly to bees if using insecticides near bee hives.
The United States Department of Agriculture Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS- PPQ) has guidelines for monitoring and treating honey bee equipment for compliance to Imported Fire Ant Quarantine regulations (see Beekeepers 2006: Don’t Transport Imported Fire Ants).
Chemical Control Options
- (Optional) Treat heavily infested areas around hives using the Two-Step Method (see Fire Ant Control: The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches). Use products registered for the site where beehives are located. For Step 1, broadcast a conventional bait-formulated product such as those containing abamectin, hydramethylnon, fenoxycarb, metaflumazone, pyriproxifen, or s-methoprene once or twice a year over an area of about ½- to 1-acre around the hives (see Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control). Then, for Step 2, treat individual mounds to quickly eliminate only those nuisance ant mounds posing an immediate hazard. Take this step at any time, but usually beginning 2 to 7 days after broadcasting bait. Individual ant mound treatments are formulated as granules, liquids, dusts, fumigants, and bait (see How to Select, Apply, and Develop Insecticides for Imported Fire Ant Control).
- (Optional). To treat the outer surface of the pallets or stand that elevates the hives, apply a nonvolatile, long-residual contact insecticide. Specialty paint-on or paint-additive formulations can produce a chemical barrier on treated surfaces. You can also apply a registered contact granular or liquid contact insecticide to the ground around the hives and beneath pallets or plastic ground covers. Preferably, treat before moving the bee hives to the location. To prevent bees from contacting treated surfaces, apply insecticides late in the evening or early in the morning when bees are not active. Read product labels and use insecticides and formulations least toxic to bees.
Citations
Weeks, Jr., R. D., J. G. Thomas, C. L. Barr, and B. M. Drees. 2001. “Evaluation of Potential Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Treatments for Commercial Honey Bee Operations” in Red Imported Fire Ant Management Applied Research and Result Demonstration Reports 1997–2001. Texas Agricultural Extension Service, College Station, TX. Pages 39–42. Posted at bug.tamu.edu/fireant/research/projects/ pdf/1997-200resdemos.pdf.
Weeks, Jr., R. D., and B. M. Drees. 2002. “Barrier Treatments for Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis Invicta,” in Southwestern Entomologist 27(1):111–113. Posted at swe.tamu.edu/articles/ PDF/SWE_V27_N2_P185-189.pdf.
Acknowledgments
Paul Jackson, State Entomologist, and Dr. John G. Thomas, Extension Entomologist Emeritus, review this publication.
References
Honey bee diseases and pests: a practical guide ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/012/a0849e/ a0849e00.pdf
Geographic Distribution of Fire Ants www.extension.org/pages/9725/geographic- distribution-of-fire-ants
Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Map www.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/e/e9/ Tx_rifa_quarantine_2009.pdf
Information for Texas Residents www.extension.org/pages/14901/information- for-texas-residents
Survey-Based Management of Red Imported Fire Ants u.tamu.edu/ento-007
Texas Pest Ant Identification: An Illustrated Key to Common Pest Ants and Fire Ant Species u.tamu.edu/ento-001
What do fire ants eat? www.extension.org/pages/60922/what-do-fire- ants-eat
Beekeepers 2006: Don’t Transport Imported Fire Ants books.google.com/books/about/ Don_t_Transport_Imported_Fire_Ants. html?id=MAQUAAAAYAAJ
Fire Ant Control: The Two-Step Method and Other Approaches www.agrilifebookstore.org/product-p/ento-034. Htm
Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control www.agrilifebookstore.org/product-p/e-628.htm
How to Select, Apply, and Develop Insecticides for Imported Fire Ant Control u.tamu.edu/ento-030
Managing Red Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas www.extension.org/pages/11004/managing- imported-fire-ants-in-urban-areas-printable- version
Download a printer-friendly version of this publication: Red Imported Fire Ant Considerations for Beekeepers
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