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Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Information for Nursery/Sod Growers 

Questions and Answers 

May 2013 

Q. Where Can I Find Information on the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine? 

Q. How Do I Know if I am in the Imported Fire Ant Quarantined Area? 

Q: What Articles/Items are Regulated for Imported Fire Ant? 

Q. What is Paperwork is Necessary to Move an Article Regulated for Imported Fire Ant? 

Q. What Insecticides are Approved for use in Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine for Nursery Stock and Grass Sod?

Q. Where Can I Find the Approved Imported Fire Ant Treatments for Nursery Stock and Grass Sod?

Q: What about Approved Imported Fire Ant Treatments for Non-Nursery Items? 

Imported Fire Ants (IFA) are notorious hitchhikers and are readily transported long distances when articles such as soil, 

nursery stock, and other items are shipped outside the infested area. Provisions of the Federal Imported Fire Ant 

Quarantine (7 Code of Federal Regulations, part 301.81) were invoked May 6, 1958, in an effort to slow or prevent the 

artificial spread of imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, or their hybrids). 

Q. Where Can I Find Information on the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine? 

A: USDA, APHIS, PPQ oversees the federal IFA quarantine with state regulatory officials implementing the quarantine at 

the state level. In general, the state regulatory officials/inspectors will be your first line of communication regarding the 

Federal IFA Quarantine. 

· State regulatory officials: http://www.nationalplantboard.org/member/index.html 

· APHIS State plant health directors: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/services/report_pest_disease/

report_pest_disease.shtml 

USDA, APHIS, PPQ Imported Fire Ant website: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/index.shtml 

Q. How Do I Know if I am in the Imported Fire Ant Quarantined Area? 

The most recent IFA quarantine map is located at: 

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/downloads/fireant.pdf. 

To determine whether you are in a quarantine area by your zip code, visit USDA’s Web Site at: 

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/zipcode.shtml 

and click the “check your zip code now” link. 

Federal IFA Quarantine Q&A for Nursery/Sod Growers—2013 
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Q: What Articles/Items are Regulated for Imported Fire Ant? 

A. Regulated Articles: 

1. Imported fire ant queens and reproducing colonies of imported fire ants. 

2. Soil, separately or with other things, except soil samples shipped to approved laboratories (consult with a 

State or Federal inspector for a list of approved laboratories). Potting soil is exempt if commercially prepared, 

packaged, and shipped in original container. 

3. Plants with roots and soil attached, except house plants maintained indoors and not for sale. 

4. Grass sod 

5. Baled hay and straw that has been stored in contact with soil. 

6. Used soil-moving equipment. 

7. Any other products, articles, or means of conveyance of any character whatsoever not covered by the above, 

when it is determined by an inspector that they present a hazard of spread of the imported fire ant and the 

person in possession thereof has been so notified. 

Q. What is Paperwork is Necessary to Move an Article Regulated for Imported Fire Ant? 

A. A person who grows, handles or moves regulated items may operate under a Compliance Agreement agreeing to 

comply with specific treatment/handling provisions of the Federal IFA Quarantine. Compliance agreements should be re

-newed annually. Those not under Compliance Agreements may be issued certificates by quarantine officials 

authorizing movement of regulated articles when certain approved procedures have been utilized to ensure that the 

regulated article(s) are free from imported fire ant infestation. These are generally issued per shipment. Contact your 

State Regulatory Official. 

 

Q. What Insecticides are Approved for use in Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine for Nursery Stock and Grass Sod?

A: This list or trade names is NOT inclusive and a detailed list of insecticide labels is available on the Web: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fireants/downloads/IFA_QuarantineLables.pdf 

† WP and W = wettable powder, E/EC = emulsifiable concentrate, G = Granular 

Common Name Trade Name examples Formulations† Use pattern 

Bifenthrin Talstar®, Onyx Pro®, etc. (many) G, F, EC Container, B&B, sod 

Chlorpyrifos Dursban®, Chlorpyrifos E, G Container, B&B, field grown, sod 

Diazinon Section 24(c) only, contact state 

Fenoxycarb Award® Bait Field grown 

Fipronil Topchoice®, Fipronil G Container, sod 

Hydramethylnon Amdro®Pro Bait Field grown 

Methoprene Extinguish® Bait Field grown 

Pyriproxyfen Distance® Bait Field grown 

Tefluthrin No label currently available G Container 

Common Name Trade Name examples Formulations† Use pattern 

Bifenthrin Talstar®, Onyx Pro®, etc. (many) G, F, EC Container, B&B, sod 

Chlorpyrifos Dursban®, Chlorpyrifos E, G Container, B&B, field grown, sod 

Diazinon Section 24(c) only, contact state 

Fenoxycarb Award® Bait Field grown 

Fipronil Topchoice®, Fipronil G Container, sod 

Hydramethylnon Amdro®Pro Bait Field grown 

Methoprene Extinguish® Bait Field grown 

Pyriproxyfen Distance® Bait Field grown 

Tefluthrin No label currently available G Container 

Federal IFA Quarantine Q&A for Nursery/Sod Growers—2013 
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Federal IFA Quarantine Q&A for Nursery/Sod Growers—2013 

Q. Where Can I Find the Approved Imported Fire Ant Treatments for Nursery Stock and Grass Sod?

A: All treatments can be found in the PPQ Treatment Manual located at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pdf. 

This is a large pdf that contains all PPQ treatments for all programs, both export and domestic. Go to Domestic 

Treatments in the Bookmarks, then to Imported Fire Ant (D301-81-10). 

Treatments include the following: 

Nursery Stock – in Containers 

· Immersion/Dip – bifenthrin and chlorpyrifos 

· Drench – bifenthrin and chlorpyrifos 

· Topical – bifenthrin 

· Granular Incorporation – bifenthrin, fipronil and tefluthrin 

Nursery Stock – Field Grown Nursery Stock (pre-harvest infield treatments or post-harvest balled-andburlapped (B&B) treatments) 

· Post-harvest B&B treatments 

o Immersion/Dip – bifenthrin and chlorpyrifos 

o Drench – chlorpyrifos 

· Pre-harvest in field treatment – broadcast bait plus broadcast contact insecticide (chlorpyrifos) 

Grass Sod 

· Bifenthrin – liquid 

· Chlorpyrifos – liquid 

· Fipronil – granular 

Fire Ant Free Nursery Program for Plants in Containers 

The Fire Ant Free Nursery Program is designed to keep nurseries free of IFA and provides a basis to 

certify containerized nursery stock on a continuous basis. Components and requirements of the Fire 

Ant Free Nursery Program are as follows: 1. Detection; 2. Control; 3. Exclusion; 4. Enforcement. This 

IFA Free Nursery Program is not mandatory for movement of nursery stock. Certification may be 

granted on the basis of other treatments. 

Q: What about Approved Imported Fire Ant Treatments for Non-Nursery Items? 

A: Treatments for non-nursery items may also be found in the PPQ Treatment Manual and best management practices 

for some items may be found on the PPQ IFA website noted in the Information Question above. 

Mention of companies or commercial products does not imply recommendation or endorsement by USDA over others not mentioned. 

USDA neither guarantees nor warrants the standard of any product mentioned. Product names are mentioned solely to report 

factually on available data and to provide specific information.