WoodGlen Fire Ant Control Program- November 6, 2006

Mark your calendars now for Nov. 6 to turn off your water sprinkler system the day before (Nov. 5) and the day of baiting, to ensure the fire ant bait remains effective. Research Pest Control will apply Extinguish Plus fire ant bait to all WoodGlen front yards, common areas and greenbelt trails on Monday, Nov.6. In case of rain, they will instead apply on Thursday, Nov. 9.

If you currently have your lawn treated for fire ant control, this application will not affect those efforts. If you do not want your front yard baited for fire ants, please contact Section 1 board representative Grace Capwell before Nov. 3rd at 310-2065 or gcapwell [at] austin.rr.com.

The pest control company will treat each front yard using a motorized spreader. The spreaders are smaller than a lawn mower with a hopper in front and a driver on back, and uses a 6HP engine. Because these spreaders can reach the entire front yard, our ant bait application will be more effective with better coverage while not harming the grass.

Annual fall and springtime baiting is a neighborhood-wide event conducted by the WoodGlen Property Owners Association (WGPOA) to manage Solenopsis invicta, the red imported fire ant. By pooling our resources and baiting all at the same time, residents get a more effective treatment for a fraction of the price of individual professional application.

In addition, extra bait is purchased in bulk to hand out to residents desiring to treat their back yards at the same time. Use your own hand spreader for a thorough dispersion of ant bait. Each resident can pick up their backyard bait in front of the WoodGlen pool area on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. In case of rain, pick up your fire ant bait on Sunday, Nov. 5, at the same times.

Last spring Wood Glen had more than 20 percent neighborhood participation with more than 130 property owners picking up backyard bait. We encourage you to participate this year for an even higher success rate. By having an entire neighborhood participate in the baiting program, fire ants can be reduced by 85 percent.

The WoodGlen board would like to extend thanks to Ms. Wizzie Brown, Extension Program Specialist of the Texas Cooperative Extension. She will be on hand again this fall during our backyard bait handout to support us in this endeavor with her expertise.

		Contributor: Grace Capwell
	           	     gcapwell [at] austin.rr.com