After the Storm: Fighting Fire Ants After Hurricane Debbie

Publication: Florida Turf Digest page 24
VOL 30 / No. 1, January February 2013

Tropical Storm DebbyThe average June rainfall in Live Oak, Florida is six inches. In June of 2012, forty inches of rain fell.

The perpetrator was Hurricane Debbie, a 200-mile wide storm that lashed north central Florida with high winds, tornadoes and sheets of rain. In the small farming community of Live Oak, more than 40 businesses and 900 homes were flooded, and six months later, many still hold water. Photo courtesy of National Weather Service.

“It was unbelievable,” said Roy Crain, general manager of Live Oak Pest Control, Inc., a 40-year-old, family owned pest control company serving Suwannee, Lafayette and Madison counties. “The storm seemed to just come in and sit. Numerous homes and businesses were flooded.”

And the insect pressure was formidable.

“I never saw so many photos of floating fire ants on Facebook,” said Crain. “And now, we are still seeing unprecedented amounts of ants, even in areas with no problems before. And I’m talking about beach ball size mounds, not little ones.”

So what is Live Oak’s strategy in the wake of the storm?

Most homes and businesses get two subsequent applications of Talstar® Professional on their lawns to start, before dropping down to applications in March, May, July and September. The liquid applications keeps fire ant activity “under control” without too much expense. A granular insecticide is applied around the perimeter of the homes for an added layer of protection.

Live Oak Pest Control is also trying a new product, Talstar XTRA featuring Verge™ Granule Technology, which offers fast and long-term mound control as well as less dust and odor. Crain received free product after winning the Friday Night Lights contest from FMC (read the story here).

Live Oak Pest Control’s lawn specialist Ryan Cannon broadcast Talstar XTRA on Langford Stadium’s football field, which had fire ant mounds. A week later, “The fire ant mounds were gone… no activity,” he said. “Talstar XTRA did a wonderful job.

Take that, Debby.

For more information, visit Live Oak Pest Control, Inc. online or call 386-362-3887.

Live Oak Pest Control President Bob McGranahan and Vice President Melissa LeeHurricane Debbie hit northern Florida in June 2012, dumping more than 40 inches of rain and leaving masses of fire ants and other pests in its wake.

Live Oak Pest Control, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Bob McGranahan, seen at left with Melissa Lee, vice president. Live Oak Pest Control has been helping fight fire ants throughout northern Florida in the wake of June’s Hurricane Debby.

Live Oak Pest Control General Manager Roy Crain is flanked by lawn specialist Ryan Cannon and owner Bob McGranahan. Live Oak Pest Control won ten bags of Talstar XTRA featuring Verge granule technology as part of the Friday Night Lights contest from FMC. Here, they pause before an application of Talstar XTRA on Langford Stadium’s football field at Suwannee High School, in Live Oak, Florida.

In Florida, it is not unusual for fire ants to infest manicured turf like sports turf. But after June’s Hurricane Debby, fire ants have become an even bigger problem.

Publication: Florida Turf Digest page 24
VOL 30 / No. 1, January February 2013

You may also like...

Leave a Reply