COMPARISON OF SEVERAL SULFLURAMID BAIT FORMULATIONS FOR CONTROL OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE)

Various bait formulations containing 0.3% or 0.6% of the fluoroaliphatic sulfone, sulfluramid, were evaluated for control of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, in field tests in Florida and Georgia. No significant differences were indicated in the effectiveness of sulfluramid baits containing 19.4, 24.4, 29.4 or 29.7% once-refined soybean oil; all gave control equivalent to that given by the hydramethylnon (Amdro(R)) standard in all tests, Sulfluramid baits were slightly more effective when applied in spring or summer than in late fall. Although higher rates were slightly more effective, differences in rate of application of formulated bait or active ingredient did not significantly affect effectiveness of the treatments in any given test. Rates of 2.52-13.44 g/ba of active ingredient or 0.84 to 1.68 kg/ha of formulated bait resulted in population index reductions of 80-99 percent.