Recently I attended a meeting designed to alert all Gulf Coast AgriLife extension agents of the pending infestation of the Rasberry Crazy Ant, RCA. Evidence of the interest in the new invasive specie, Tom Rasberry, the Pest Control Operator for whom the ant is named, attended as did representatives of the USDA-APHIS, TDA, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas A&M, University of Texas, and some political dignitaries.
The ant does not sting or bite humans: they are a significant pest, however, because their sheer numbers overwhelm homes, lawns and businesses. We are talking colonies numbering in the billions per acre. These colonies can double monthly during its foraging season April - November.
The Current treatment protocol uses 4 to 5 insecticide formulations and maintaining an insecticide residual by treating monthly. House keeping for the homeowner is imperative, that is sweeping away the dead. The insecticides kill many ants but the survivors crawl on top of the bone pile; consequently no insecticide touches thse ants. After all, if you have a billion ants and you kill 20 million, you still have 980 million left.
To date, the ant has been positively identified in 11 Texas Counties to include Harris and Ft. Bend and nothing has worked to control their advance. It is widely believed they are transported on agricultural products such as hay bales and nursery stock. I recommend before planting new plants to hire our company to inspect your plant material for this ant. There is desperate need for funding for the Entomologists to research these insects, to scientifically determine how they're spread and where the State should use its quarantine powers. I encourage you to contact your State officials and express your concern about this insect.
I invite you to the following TAMU website to learn what we know. There are some good video on the website of the ant http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm. Another blogger made an informative video of this meeting that I also recommend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oUbzvlQB0U
Thursday, August 13, 2009
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