Nuisance Ants in Turf

en Español / em Português
Español

El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.

Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.

Português

Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.

Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.

English

English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.

Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.

Collapse ▲

Introduction

Unlike fire ants (Solenopsis spp.), nuisance ants (Family: Formicidae) are not typically pests in managed turfgrass but can become an issue when they are prone to inhabiting the same area from year-to-year.

Description

Formica ants are comprised of three species: Formica integra (red wood ants), Formica subsericea, and Formica exectoides (Allegheny mound ant). F. integra are a red two-tone color, often the abdomen is much darker than the thorax. F. integra feeds on other arthropods like sawfly larvae, bark beetles, termites, honey bees and tends aphids, psyllids and scale insects for honeydew. F. subsericea are all black and also feed and tend to other insects. F. exectoides are red-black ants that are prevalent in the eastern United States.

Pest Status

Formica ants can be pests of open, sunny areas, constructing mounds that can disrupt the turf surface. To keep shade off the mound, ants will severely damage nearby vegetation.

Biology

Ants are social insects that construct colonies, or nests, when temperatures are not too hot (spring and fall). Similar to fire ants, formica ants are more prevalent in areas with higher soil temperatures, near sidewalks, concrete slabs, pavement or in areas with direct sunlight and bare soil. A colony generally consists of an egg-laying queen, males, immatures (eggs, larvae and pupae) and sterile, female workers. The queen lays eggs which are tended and fed by worker ants. In the spring and fall, colonies produced winged ants that leave the colony, mate and seek new nesting sites.

Damage

Although formica ants do not present a human health hazard like fire ants, they are considered a nuisance pest. Worker ants can infest buildings in large numbers in search of food for the growing colony. The construction of nests results in large mounds, particularly large with F. exectoides, that are unsightly and will often damage mowing equipment.

Control

Cultural Control

Ants serve a useful role in the ecosystem so the presence of ants in turf is not always a negative thing. However, frequent disruption of a mound by digging or flooding with a garden hose may not kill the colony, but could cause the mound to relocate to a less objectionable location. Reducing the amount of available food (pet food, fruit, bird feeders) and eliminating moist wood or debris from an area can help discourage ant colony establishment.

Biological Control

No biological control option

Chemical Control

If chemical control is necessary, carbaryl (Sevin) or pyrethroids can be used for control. For Formica integra located next to a structure, a gel bait containing fipronil may be used. Bait stations should be used in places where pets may have access. If you wish to use a bait, it should be one listed for sweet-loving ants and tested for attractiveness. Fire ant baits will not be attractive to these ants. Aloft™ is a good general nuisance ant product for professionals. For additional chemical choices, see the NC Agricultural Chemicals Manual.

Table 1. Insecticides for the control of nuisance ants in turf.
Insecticide and Formulation Amount per 1,000 sq ft Precaution and Remarks
bifenthrin* (Menace, Talstar, others) F, GC; G form also available 0.5 to 1 fl oz Use GC formulation for golf courses.
carbaryl* (Sevin) 80 WSP 1 to 1.5 oz
chlorpyrifos* (Dursban) 2E, 4E, 2G, 50 WP, Pro See label For use on golf courses. See new label.
chlothianidin + bifenthrin (Aloft) GC SC LC SC GC G LC G See label 0.27 to 0.44 fl oz 0.27 to 0.54 fl oz 1.8 to 3.6 lb 1.8 to 3.6 lb
cyfluthrin (Tempo 2) 0.143 fl oz Home lawns only.
cypermethrin* (Demon) TC See label
deltamethrin (Deltagard) G 2 to 3 lb/1,000 ft
fipronil 0.0143 G See label
hydramethylnon* (Maxforce G, Amdro) See label
lambda-cyhalothrin* (Battle, Scimitar, Cyonara) See label Do not make applications within 20 feet of any body of water. No reentry until spray has dried.

References

For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local Cooperative Extension Center