This one had about 20 entrance holes and much more activity. He let the lawn mower run for about two days straight and found that foraging by the ants had stopped. Top Bio-controls Several natural enemies of the RIFA are being studied for possible use in biological control. Very few offer viable control at present but an outline of possibilities is presented. Pyemotes tritici , the straw itch parasitic mite, feeds on immature ants when applied in large numbers.
Treatment is costly and the mite is itself a pest and can cause skin irritation in humans.
Sources of nematodes include Buglogical Control Systems and Gulf Coast Biologicals. A permanent population has been established in Florida. Work at six additional sites in Arkansas, Alabama and Oklahoma is in progress. A second species, P. curvatus , will be released presently. The parasitic fungi Beuvaria bassiana is being evaluated for use in baits.