By Lane Tredway, Ph.D., technical services manager for Syngenta

Ants on the golf course can cause a variety of problems, ranging from disruption of putting surfaces, damage to mower reels or painful stings to golfers or workers. Fortunately, golf course superintendents have several options to effectively control these pests as part of their insecticide program.

Advion^® fire ant bait insecticide provides control of foraging worker ants within 12 to 48 hours and can provide total colony control within 72 hours. No other fire ant bait on the market compares to the speed of control with Advion fire ant bait. Its active ingredient, indoxacarb, is bio-activated by the ant’s internal enzymes. Once consumed, the material is transferred to other members of the colony, controlling the entire colony. Advion fire ant bait leverages ants’ natural foraging behavior and does not trigger an alarm response from the insects that can result in colony relocation. Plus, take advantage of the unsurpassed speed and unbeatable results of Advion Fire Ant Bait and get guaranteed control by following the Advion Fire Ant Bait Guarantee Program.

For season-long control of imported fire ants, make at least two applications of Advion fire ant bait with a broadcast spreader at 1.5 pounds per acre when populations are foraging. One application should be made in the spring between April and May, and the second in mid-September to October.

For severe infestations, Advion fire ant bait can also be used as an individual mound treatment by scattering 4 tablespoons of product around the outer periphery of each mound. Following up with a broadcast application controls colonies that are not yet visible and provide longer-lasting fire ant control.

Controlling nuisance ants on the golf course

Other ant species, such as the turfgrass ant, pavement ant or bigheaded ant, do not aggressively sting humans but can still be a pain on the golf course and are commonly referred to as “nuisance ants.” They can severely damage the uniform playing surfaces that golfers demand, and also bring soil up to the surface that can dull or damage mower blades.

Advion fire ant bait also controls common nuisance ant species listed on the product label. A broadcast application of 1.5 lbs. of product per acre, or mound treatment of four tablespoons per colony, provides effective control of these species. Apply the bait when ants are actively foraging, and avoid mowing or irrigation for 24 hours to allow ample time for the target ants to harvest the bait.

If a spray application is desired to control nuisance ants, Meridian^® 25WG insecticide (12.7 to 17 oz./acre) can provide effective and long-lasting control. Adding Scimitar^® GC insecticide (5-10 fl. oz./acre) can dramatically improve the speed of activity. These can be applied as a spot treatment to target existing mounds, and should be applied in a large amount of water (5-10 gallons per 1,000 ft.²) or watered-in after application to drive the active ingredients into the infested soil.

For more information about ant control, contact your local Syngenta territory manager.

© 2023 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties and/or may have state-specific use requirements. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration and proper use. Scimitar GC is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Advion^®, Meridian^®, Scimitar^®, the Alliance Frame and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective third-party owners.