EQUINE | Equine Disease Update
EQUINE | Equine Disease Update
Fire Ant Surveillance for Horse Farms
The red imported fire ant occurs in parts or all of Alabama , Arkansas , California , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Mississippi , New Mexico , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Puerto Rico , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , and Virginia . Occasionally , it has been found in Kentucky , Maryland , and Missouri ( Figure 1 ). Fire ants like to establish colonies in open sunny fields and pastures . Soil moisture and winter temperatures round out the major environmental factors that limit the spread of this invasive insect .
Changes in climate , along with the adaptability of the insect point to a continued gradual expansion of its boundaries . The impact of the fire ant extends beyond the pain of its legendary sting . No significant adverse effects to the health of foals or mature horses have been reported in states in which fire ants are widely established . In addition to causing injury to workers , animals , and wildlife , this small insect affects pasture maintenance , hay production , damages equipment , and increases costs . Horse-farm managers in fire ant-infested areas have adjusted their management practices and developed strategies to live with this pest .
The gradual northward and westward expansion of the fire ant ’ s range exposes more farm managers and stable and pleasure horse owners to this important pest . Those living along the expansion front should become familiar with some of the basics of fire ants and watch for ant activity that seems out of the ordinary .
The familiar mound is the ant ’ s hallmark , but there is one major difference when it comes to fire ants : Their mound is the typical pile of loose , fine soil but there is no central opening . Instead , fire ants enter and leave their colonies through underground tunnels that radiate from the mound . Mound heights range from a few inches in mowed areas to 18 inches in undisturbed areas . Repair of a fire ant mound collapsed by a heavy rain results in a loose , fluffy pile of soil a few days later . Fire ants look like typical ants . They are small but vary from 1 / 8- to 1 / 4-inch in length . The head , thorax , and legs are red to brown with a black abdomen . Positive identification of fire ants requires collecting approximately a dozen specimens in rubbing alcohol and taking them to your local Cooperative Extension Office . This must be done carefully . Disturbing the mound usually prompts numerous ants to pour out and climb up any vertical surface to sting the intruder .
Other ant species scurry about when the colony is disrupted , working to protect the queen and move their brood to a safe place . Collect the ants carefully to prevent being stung . Dust baby powder on dishwashing gloves and wear them because the ants cannot crawl up dusted surfaces .
Stay as far away from the mound as possible during collection and watch for ants crawling on your shoes . Follow up a positive identification of fire ants with a careful examination of the property in spring or late fall to determine the number and location of active mounds .
Fire ants are managed by careful application of baits or mound drenches of insecticides labeled for fire-ant control . Take advantage of the excellent information available on fire-ant management .
For more information , see Identifying Fire Ants , http :// articles . extension . org / pages / 11278 / identifying-fireants .
CONTACT : Lee Townsend , MS , PhD Lee . Townsend @ uky . edu ( 859 ) 257-7455 Department of Entomology University of Kentucky Lexington , KY
• Volume 19 no 1 • February 2017 • 21