BIOLOGICAL STUDIES, CONTROL INVESTIGATIONS, AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES REGARDING THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT, SOLENOPSIS INVICTA BUREN (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE), IN SOUTH CAROLINA (HORNFLY, PRO-DRONE, HAEMATOBIA IRRITANS, SOLENOPSIS GEMINATA)

A survey of selected South Carolina residents was conducted between 1983 and 1985. Questions dealt with the respondents' opinion on the red imported fire ant (RIFA) problem and control practices used. Eighty-seven percent of the 430 respondents felt they had a severe RIFA problem on their property. Control measures were taken by 74% of the respondents. A majority of the people (89%) reported having had one or more members of their immediate family stung by the RIFA.; Evaluation of common insecticides for RIFA control and home remedies was conducted. Drenches of Sevin('(REGTM)) 80WP, Lorsban('(REGTM)) 4E and Spectracide('(REGTM)) 2E provided approximately 90% control through 112 days posttreatment. The Cessco Accudose('(REGTM)) Aerosol, containing chlorpyrifos, and Orthene('(REGTM)) 75S were as effective as the drenches and easier to use. Leaded gasoline was the only home remedy providing adequate control. It gave 100% control for 42 days posttreatment. Affirm('(REGTM)) W002 gave better control of RIFA colonies over a longer period than did Amdro('(REGTM)). Relocation was a problem with most treatments; however, applications of Cleanite('(REGTM)) caused the highest amount of mound movement. Field tests of UC86874 and UC84572 indicated that both compounds at the 18 and 30 g/mound rate provided 90% control at 84 days posttreatment.; Adult hornet fly emergence was increased significantly ((alpha) = 0.05) in fields free of RIFAs. The presence of the ants decreased the number of adult flies emerging by 55% over 5 months.; Native ant populations in fields that had been treated with Pro-Drone('(REGTM)) for RIFA control were significantly ((alpha) = 0.05) higher than in untreated fields. In treated fields, native ant foraging increased while RIFA foraging decreased within four months of the first application. The most common native ant species in treated fields were: Conomyrma spp., Iridomymrex pruinosus, and Solenopsis geminata, respectively.