One step fire ant control

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling fire ants with a single step application of a combination of a bait and a controlled release treatment composition, and to the novel bait/controlled release treatment composition combination used in the method of the present invention.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling a fire ant comprising:
 (a) applying an effective amount of a combination of a fire ant bait and a controlled release treatment composition wherein,   (b) the fire ant bait comprises a fire ant food and/or a fire ant attractant and a first insecticide, wherein said first insecticide is selected from the group consisting of pyriproxyfen, hydramethylnon, abemectin, fipronil, methoprene, spinosad, and imidacloprid; and   (c) the controlled release treatment composition comprises a second insecticide selected from the group consisting of one or more pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates, metabolic inhibitors, nicotinoids, chloronicotinyls, fiproles, pyrroles and a means for controllably releasing said second insecticide.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said means for controllably releasing said second insecticide is a controlled release coating, layer, or matrix. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said means for controllably releasing said second insecticide is in response to variations of moisture, temperature, sunlight, ultraviolet light, pH or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first insecticide of the fire ant bait effects a slower kill rate of a fire ant than the second insecticide of the controlled release treatment thereby allowing time for foraging fire ants to take the bait into the colony before the first insecticide of the fire ant bait kills the ants in the colony. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said fire ant bait is applied to a fire ant colony in a concentration of about 2 to 5 ounces per 1000 square feet. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said second insecticide is released in a range of about 1 to about 5 days after initial application of the combination of (a) and (b) to a locus where control of fire ants is sought. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fire ant bait (a) and the controlled release treatment composition (b) are combined within a single granule. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said second insecticide is selected from the group consisting of bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, betacyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and fipronil. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said first insecticide is pyriproxyfen and said second insecticide is bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said single granule comprises a fire ant bait portion in combination with a controlled release treatment composition and said controlled release treatment comprises a second insecticide which is overcoated with a controlled release layer. 
     
     
         30 . A composition for the treatment of a fire ant comprising:
 (a) a fire ant bait comprising a fire ant food and/or a fire ant attractant and a first insecticide, wherein said first insecticide is selected from the group consisting of pyriproxyfen, hydramethylnon, abemectin, fipronil, methoprene, spinosad, and imidacloprid; and   (b) a controlled release treatment composition comprises a second insecticide selected from the group consisting of one or more pyrethroids, carbamates, organophosphates, metabolic inhibitors, nicotinoids, chloronicotinyls, fiproles, pyrroles and a means for controllably releasing said second insecticide.   
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the fire ant bait (a) and the controlled release treatment composition (b) are combined within a single granule. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein said single granule comprises a fire ant bait portion in combination with a controlled release treatment composition, wherein said controlled release treatment composition comprises a second insecticide which is overcoated with a controlled release layer. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said means for controllably releasing said second insecticide is a controlled release coating, layer, or matrix. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said means for controllably releasing said second insecticide is in response to variations of moisture, temperature, sunlight, ultraviolet light, pH or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said second insecticide is released in a range of about 1 to about 5 days after initial application of the combination of (a) and (b) to a locus where control of fire ants is sought. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said second insecticide is released in a range of about 2 to about 3 days after initial application of the combination of (a) and (b) to a locus where control of fire ants is sought. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said second insecticide is selected from the group consisting of bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, betacyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and fipronil. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said first insecticide is pyriproxyfen and said second insecticide is bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . A method of controlling fire ants comprising:
 (a) applying an effective amount of a combination of a fire ant bait and a controlled release treatment composition wherein,   (b) the fire ant bait comprises a fire ant food and/or a fire ant attractant and a first insecticide;   (c) the controlled release treatment composition comprises a second insecticide which is not the same as said first insecticide and a means for controllably releasing said second insecticide; and   wherein the first insecticide of the fire ant bait effects a slower kill rate of the insects than the second insecticide of the controlled release treatment thereby allowing time for foraging fire ants to take the bait into the colony before the first insecticide of the fire ant bait operates to kill the colony.