Where, oh where, have the fire ants gone?

By DAVY MOSELEY | East Texas Edition

August 9, 2001 -- If you think there are a lot fewer fire ants in 2001, don't get too excited just yet. According to Extension entomologists, fire ants are still around and will reappear in numbers this fall.

According to Mike Merchant, Texas Cooperative Extension urban entomologist in Dallas, as weather conditions become wetter and cooler more and more fire ants will be visible during the daytime.

"Right now, ants are foraging at night. If you tried to have a picnic at midnight, you'd find them," the entomologist said.

"The apparent absence of fire ants is kind of misleading because it is so hot and dry. Long, hot summers, like last year, are hard on fire ants," said Merchant.

Contrary to what many people think, fire ants are not hindered by cold weather, they simply burrow deeper in the soil, and return to the surface when warm weather returns. But, it is harder for them to weather hot, dry conditions.

As for local theories that the absence of fire ants has paved the way for increased numbers of other common pests such as insect parasites, grasshoppers and even snakes, the insect expert dismissed such ideas as wild speculation.

"Ecologically speaking, fire ants are still a newcomer to Texas. First documented in East Texas in 1957, researchers have been hard pressed to document any impact the tiny insects have had on Texas wildlife," according to Merchant.

Bill Varnado, of Varnado Feed Services in Gilmer, said he normally sells two palettes of fireant control products every summer, but hasn't sold hardly any so far this season

"Every once in a while a customer will come in and say they've got several mounds, but in Upshur County we just don't seem to have very many fire ants this year," Varnado said.

Even though fire ants are not the annoying pest this year in many areas of the state, like they have been in years past, Merchant said he is not necessarily discouraging treatment of mounds, or broadcasting around residences.

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, is an introduced species that arrived in Mobile, Ala. from South America during the 1920s. This ant species has had an enormous effect on the southeastern United States, and continues to spread into areas of North America with mild climates and adequate moisture and food. Approximately 270 million acres in the southeastern United States are currently infested.