Florida location Mobile Home Vacation Residence unoccupied months at a
time
fire ants get in the points in the well and shut down the well by
effecting electrical contact. Using chemical Sevin granuales works but
does not hold the time frame. If I was there to apply Sevin that would
do it but I am not.
What can I do to set up a longer time frame protection sysyem
independent of outside help? Thank you!

Hallo smack-ga

Fipronil, a relatively new insecticide, has been found to provide
long-term control of fire ants for up to one year.  A retail version
of this product is available under the name Over'n Out! Fire Ant
Killer Granules and is available online from Do It Best for $22.19 
plus estimated Shipping & Handling of $9.36
http://doitbest.com/shop/product.asp?mscssid=VQ7P9780AFB59PNNSW908X7S1W7G5G28&dept%5Fid=1384&sku=765522
or from Aubuchon Hardware at the same price:
http://lawn-and-garden.aubuchonhardware.com/pest_control_and_fertilizers/insecticides_and_insect_repellants/fire_ant_killer-765522.asp

The December 2001 issue of Fire Ant Trails: News from the Texas
Imported Fire Ant Research & Management Plan, Vol. V No. 2 had the
following news about Top Choice granules, another fipronil product
sold to professionals only:
"Field trials. The 0.0143% formulation has been tested several times
in the past few years in Texas (C. L. Barr, pers. comm.). A test
initiated in the spring of 1999 in Bryan, Texas showed over 95%
control from 12 through 52 weeks post-application at the 0.0125
lb/acre rate. Initial control appeared within 2 to 4 weeks with a
maximum control reached within 8 weeks during warm weather. Initial
control may likely take longer when applied after cold or dry weather
has set in."

Search strategy: "fire ants" long-term control

I now notice I omitted the URL for the Fire Ant Trails newsletter:
http://fireant.tamu.edu/materials/newsletters/fatrails5.002.htm