DATE:   9/2/99 
WRITER: Randy Griffin, (864) 656-5045
EDITOR: Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876

Keeping Fire Ants Away from Okra        

     Q: There are fire ants on my okra plants. Is there an
insecticide I can use on the plants or around them to keep the
ants off? 
     A: Fire ants are attracted to okra for several reasons.
First, okra plants have glands that secrete an oil ants like to
feed on. And secondly, aphids are commonly feeding on okra, and
ants feed on the honey dew   a sticky, sugary substance -- the
aphids secrete from their bodies.
     There are no insecticides specifically labeled for fire ants
on okra, but Sevin, that is labeled on okra for several other
pests, will aid in the control of fire ants. Treat the plants the
day before you plan to harvest the pods. A wettable powder or
liquid formulation that can be sprayed with a small pump-up
sprayer will be more effective than the dust formulation.
     Along with the Sevin sprays, I recommend treating the
perimeter of the garden with one of the fire ant baits commonly
used on turf and/or non-crop areas such as Amdro, Logic, Award,
Extinguish, etc. These baits are not labeled for use on food
crops, so keep them out of the garden itself. Instead, treat a
band along the perimeter. 
     Ants will forage fifty or more feet from their mound in
search of food (the bait). This treatment will kill ants
throughout the garden.   Randy Griffin, Extension entomologist.
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     If you have questions or comments on gardening-related
issues, write to PSA News & Publications, Box 340129, A-101 Pole
Agricultural Center, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0129. 
     You might also want to look for other "Buds and Blooms"
columns under 1999 News Releases at: www.clemson.edu/agcomm  
Also check out Clemson Extension's new Home and Garden
Information Center (HGIC) at: http://hgic@clemson.edu or 
1-888-656-9988. HGIC has information specialists on call  from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for information not covered by
the recorded messages and fact sheets.
                              END