Sundew Fire Ant Solutions

Sundew red imported fire ant solutions are the result of years of extensive research and development undertaken in south east Queensland since 2011.  Sundew offers innovative solutions to quickly eliminate large fire ant infestations as well as protect vehicles from inadvertently moving fire ants between locations.

This page canvasses a vast array of information in relation to red imported fire ants in Australia.  Please click on any of the Directory topics below to read more.

SUNDEW FIRE ANT DIRECTORY

National Fire Ant Eradication Resources

Sundew ANTagonistPRO 80 SC Fire Ant Treatment

Sundew SAS PRO Fipronil Granular Fire Ant Treatment

Other Content of Interest in Relation to Red Imported Fire Ants

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee Inquiry Red Imported Fire Ants Australia

  • Submissions sent to the Senate Inquiry: CLICK HERE
  • Additional Documents submitted to Senate Inquiry:  CLICK HERE
  • Answers to Questions on Notice: CLICK HERE
  • Transcripts from Public Hearings Brisbane, Newcastle and Parliament House: CLICK HERE
  • Live recording Brisbane Senate Inquiry evidence:  CLICK HERE
  • Live recording Newcastle Senate Inquiry evidence: CLICK HERE
  • Watch live recording of Parliament House Canberra Senate Inquiry evidence.  CLICK HERE
  • Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee Red Imported Fire Ants in Australia FINAL REPORT: CLICK HERE

 

what is antagonist pro rapid response large area treatment?

Sundew ANTagonistPRO Rapid Response Large Area Treatment is a method researched and developed by Sundew Solutions to enable operators to quickly control and reduce large nest populations with the least amount of man hours.  Using the suspension concentrate treatment ANTagonistPRO 80 SC which is diluted into a spray application and applied through boom spray equipment mounted on quad bike, tractor, utility or other suitable service vehicles a single operator is able to treat large areas in a fraction of the time compared to back breaking nest by nest injection method. 

Sundew ANTagonistPRO Rapid Response Large Area Treatment Red Imported Fire Ants Queensland - Marshall Blacklock CDI Pest

In a recent case study, a pest management professional was asked to treat a site being prepared for a shopping center construction where a massive number of fire ant nests were discovered.  Members from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program visited the site and were unfortunately not able to treat the area in the time constraints imposed.  The pest management company that was called upon estimated to take over 200 man hours (5 people x 5 days x 8 hour days) doing the traditional spear and inject method to treat the site costing in excess of $40,031 to complete.  It was deemed not practical to do the spear and inject method due to the rugged terrain, obstacles, etc making it impossible to be 100% certain of eliminating the intense fire ant population on site.  Baiting was not an option due to weather (rain) and time constraints (baits work too slowly and need to be reapplied when it rains).  The task was completed using the Sundew ANTagonistPRO Rapid Response Large Area Treatment method in 4 hours with a cost under $3,200 with a single operator.

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WHAT IS ANTAGONIST PRO BIOSECURITY TRANSPORT PROTECTION TREATMENT?

Sundew ANTagonistPRO 80 SC has an APVMA approval treating vehicles, earth moving equipment, and shipping containers as an additional biosecurity protection against red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants.  

Vehicles (including but not limited to cars, buses, earth moving equipment, trucks, rail cars and recreational vehicles).  Shipping containers (including by not limited to those containing pallets, machinery and plant nursery related goods.  Apply ANTagonistPRO biosecurity transport protection treatment to areas where ants are likely to trail, cracks, crevices and entry points.

Vehicles and equipment as listed above that are in sites likely to habour fire ants, or are known fire ant hot spots should regularly have equipment cleaned to reduce plant and other materials conducive to attracting fire ant habitation.  An application of Sundew ANTagonistPRO polymer enhanced bifenthrin provides a preventative treatment for any species of ants coming into contact with the application.

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WHAT IS ANTAGONIST PRO POLYMER ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY?

Sundew ANTagonistPRO 80 SC is unique in that its formulation incorporates polymers.  This enhances the durability of the formulation in outdoor situations.  Only Sundew ANTagonistPRO 80 SC utilises this formulation chemistry – it is totally unique to this product.

Like No Other Product

ANTagonistPRO was purposely designed and developed from the ground up.  There is no other product like it in Australia, or overseas.

It was engineered following focus group studies from pest management professionals across Australia where we were unanimously told that the pest issue that causes the most ‘call-backs’ from customers was ants in outdoor situations.

Need for Better Ant Control Solution

Pest managers went on further to say that they wanted a solution that would be robust to withstand harsh conditions, provide excellent residual activity and had the capacity to destroy large colonies of ants.

Working with our formulation chemist a variety of actives and formulations were developed and subsequently tested in the field over many years.  The end result was ANTagonistPRO 80 suspension concentrate which was APVMA approved in Australia in January 2013.  When it was originally approved it was an outdoors ant-only product.  ANTagonistPRO was originally designed and developed with the sole purpose of being Australia’s first specialty ant nest destroyer.

Further Research and Development

Following feedback from pest managers Sundew has invested significantly in further research and development to dramatically expand the label claims for other urban pest.  Further research and claims were added in the form of an extensive list of turf and ornamental pests.  At the direction of DAFF and the APVMA Sundew was advised that field research was required in order to be able to claim red imported fire ants (and yellow crazy ants) to the label claims for ANTagonistPRO.  These field trials were completed and red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants were successfully added to ANTagonistPRO 80 SC in April 2021.  

In April 2023 restrictions on using boom spray equipment were removed from the ANTagonistPRO to enable the Sundew Rapid Response Large Area Treatment method for red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants in Australia.

In November 2023 APVMA approval was given to allow the use of Sundew ANTagonistPRO 80 SC on vehicles (including but not limited to cars, buses, earth moving equipment, trucks, rail cars and recreational vehicles), shipping containers (including but not limited to those containing pallets, machinery and plant nursery related goods).

Sundew ANTagonistPRO – the ONLY Bifenthrin Product in Australia Approved for Red Imported Fire Ants

Sundew ANTagonistPRO is the only fully APVMA approved (No. 67858 / 141439) bifenthrin for treating red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants in Australia as at February 2024.

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WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ANTAGONIST PRO RAPID RESPONSE LARGE AREA TREATMENT versus SPEAR AND INJECT for treating larger areas/infestations?

SPEAR AND INJECT METHODOLOGY 

This method requires an operator to absolutely identify every nest to be treated in a given area.  Any nest missed, no matter how small or large has the potential to reinfest a given area addressed.  Then that operator must have a vehicle with large volume tank, pump, spear and injection equipment, shower head fitting for pump, shovel and PPE.  The technician then pushes the steel spear at multiple points around the nest injecting a fipronil/water mix into the nest.  A shower head fitting is then attached in replacement of the steel spear and the operator then takes a shovel and digs up the nest.  The nest is then drenched with the same fipronil/water mix.  The soil is then turned over back into the original situation and the shovel is rinsed off using the same pesticide mix.  It takes approximately 5 to 7 minutes per nest and requires 10 litres of chemical treatment injected into the ground.  The spear and inject methodology is insanely inefficient when treating larger areas with large infestations – it requires many man hours of labour, many hundreds of litres of chemical all equating to exorbitated costs in hard cold cash.  Not to mention the physical demand on operators to undertake this process. 

ANTAGONIST PRO RAPID RESPONSE LARGE AREA TREATMENT METHODOLOGY

The ANTagonistPRO Rapid Response Large Area Treatment method is eloquently simple.  Using any number of boom spray application equipment commonly available, ANTagonistPRO is applied over large areas very quickly and efficiently.  It can be applied using quad bike, utility vehicle, tractor etc.  In fact it can be applied using hand boom and other simple devices.

With this method it does not require absolutely every single nest be located and flagged.

ANTAGONIST PRO versus SPEAR AND INJECT

In a recent case study in Brisbane at a site where 100 nests were identified on a block.

To spear and inject the area it was calculated it would take >11 hours.  The labour costs equate to $2,750.00 plus 1,000 litre of mixed chemical treatment.

Using the ANTagonistPRO Rapid Response Treatment methodology completed the task in under 15 minutes utilising with total costs around $100.00.

Which would you rather do? 

  • Spend 11 hours spear, inject, dig, shower, shovel, rinse move and repeat, or
  • Sit in your air conditioned vehicle, cover the same area, job done in 15 minutes. 

It’s a no brainer.

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WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ANTAGONIST PRO versus BAITING FOR FIRE ANTS?

WHAT ARE BAITS?

Applying baits for fire ant elimination can be a very effective way of addressing the problem in ideal conditions. 

However, the conditions must be ‘ideal’ for baiting to be effective.  Fire ant baits basically comprise a food source incorporated with either a toxicant or insect growth regulator (IGR). 

Toxicant based baits rely on the toxicant having a delayed mode of action (not instant death) so that it is taken back to the nest where it is shared amongst colony members, builds up in level and eventually causes colony collapse/death. 

Insect growth regulators mimic hormones in insects and interfere with their reproduction or life stages.  Insect growth regulators are very slow in their mode of action and work best when insects are more active (i.e. Spring/Summer) and not so good when insects slow down (Autumn/Winter).  Baits with IGR’s work at their best during warmer periods.

WHEN SHOULD I NOT USE BAITS?

Baits should not be used during times of slower feeding activity (i.e. when it is cool, autumn, winter).  If there is a plethora or alternative preferred food sources the operator will find that fire ants will ignore artificial food sources in preference to more readily available natural sources.

Baits are also drastically negatively affected by rain and are required to be reapplied if rainfall has occurred.  Between the 1st of September 2023 and 12th February 2024 in the heart of Brisbane there has been 625.4 mm of rain recorded with 60 rain events occurring between these dates.  This means on average it rained every 2.75 days between these dates.  This essentially means that any baits applied between the September 2023 and February 2024 are highly likely to have been totally ineffective.  

Compounding the issue of the limited use application of baits due to weather, temperature, and competing food sources is the INCREDIBLY HIGH COSTS of bait products.  Pest controllers pay between $10.07 to $24.86 per 100 grams.

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How long has ANTagonistPRO been available in Australia?

Sundew ANTagonistPRO was first approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA approval No. 67858) in January 2013.

The product was approved only after extensive testing in the field demonstrating its effectiveness as a dedicated ant nest destroyer.  Original field development work was done extensively on a vast array of common ant species including the tramp ant species – Argentine ant.

It is important to understand that all pest claims on the ANTagonistPRO have only been added after extensive in the field trials conducted in Australia.

Sundew has been doing field trials on fire ants across south east Queensland for many years.  These commenced in early 2014 and continue to this day. 

The team at Sundew are continually looking at new an innovative ways to provide new tools to assist pest management professionals and the National Fire Ant Eradication Program. 

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WHAT IS SAS PRO RAPID RESPONSE DIRECT NEST TREATMENT?

The Sundew SAS PRO Rapid Response Direct Nest Treatment methodology is executed when a person is able to positively identify a nest and immediately treat the nest then and there.

The Sundew SAS PRO Rapid Response Direct Nest Treatment methodology was developed to enable the fastest, no fuss, no cleanup required, most reliable treatment method.

Vast numbers of identified red imported fire ant nests can be treated quickly and efficiently with minimal equipment, training or physical exertion. 

To find out more contact Sundew Solutions at info@sundewsolutions.com.au 

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WHAT IS SAS PRO GRANULAR ANT KILLER?

SAS PRO granular ant killer, pioneered by Sundew, was the first products in its category and continues to dominate sales as the premier fipronil-based solution.

SAS PRO (Sundew Ant Sand) is made in Australia utilising specially graded premium quartz to ensure exacting volumes of the active ingredient fipronil.  Using a proprietary 3 step blending process ensures consistency between every kilogram, every bucket, and every batch.

SAS PRO comes in a convenient 1 kg shaker pack, and 10 kg bucket.  It can be made to order in any pack size between 100 g and 1,000 kg bulka bags (upon request).  

Key features:

  • Non-schedule poison
  • Safe to use
  • No special equipment required to apply
  • No special training required to apply
  • No mixing required
  • No measuring required
  • No cleaning up required afterwards
  • Safe around pets, people and other animals
  • Does not matter whether ants are sugar, protein, or oil feeders – SAS PRO controls the lot!
  • Approved for red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants
  • Made in Australia
  • Minimum 2 yeas shelf life once pack has been opened
  • No mess, no fuss way to eradicate ants
  • Kills the queen and the colony
  • Non-repellent formulation
  • Treatment bonds to organic matter and does not move great distances in the environment.

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WHEN SHOULD I USE SAS PRO FIPRONIL GRANULES FOR TREATING FIRE ANTS?

Sundew SAS PRO granular ant treatment is ideal for treating fire ants in Australia when you have identified a fire ant nest.

SAS PRO is a ready to use non-scheduled treatment (extremely safe) that does not require any specialised equipment, training or preparation to apply.

Simply apply onto and around the nest and where fire ants are suspected to be foraging for food.

SAS PRO for fire ants is a non-repellent treatment that fire ants cannot detect.  Worker ants come into contact with the granules (it is not a bait!) and unwittingly pick up fipronil on their bodies which is transferred back throughout the colony resulting in death of the queen and nest within 4 to 14 days depending on the size of nest.

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WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF SAS PRO VERSUS BAITING FIRE ANTS?

In a Perfect World

Under perfect environmental conditions (no rain, no cold, no extreme heat, no preferential competing food sources, etc) toxicant baits can be very effective in treating red imported fire ants.

In the Real World

In the real world the environment in Australia where red imported fire ants are presently thriving the National Fire Ant Eradication Program is constantly juggling the impact of rain, cold, heat and competing food sources when applying toxicant bait options.  There are sites in Queensland where baits have been provided to commercial entities at no cost for over 10 years continuously where red imported fire ant nests still thrive in their hundreds.

Facts are that baits work best when there is no rain and constant regular spring temperature.  In order to work effectively enough of the bait must be taken back to the nest and enough members of the colony contacted/ingest the product in order to achieve results.  This can take day and weeks to achieve.  The National Fire Ant Eradication Program recommends not using baits when rain is anticipated.  Any rain even post a bait being applied requires that the bait is reapplied after.

The Weather in Queensland Impacts Baits

At an official Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather station at the site mentioned above (where free bait was supplied by the program), during the period 4th of September 2023 to 13th February 2024 there was a total of 625.4mm of rain averaging a rain event every 2.5 days.  This clearly explains why baiting has been ineffective at this site.

Sundew SAS PRO and the Weather

Sundew SAS PRO is not as affected by sun, heat and cold.  Once a pack of SAS PRO is opened you can put it into storage, and it will still be as perfectly good as the day it was made for up to 2 years.  Once a container of bait is opened, it needs to be used within a short period of time to avoid spoilage (it is basically a food matrix with toxicant added – once food containers are opened, they need to be used relatively quickly).

Once applied to red imported fire ant nests, a minor rain event does not affect Sundew SAS PRO Rapid Response Direct Nest Treatment methodology.  In actual fact it has been found by members of the National Fire Ant Eradication Program that a rain event after application of Sundew SAS PRO enhances the performance.  This is attributed to the fipronil on SAS PRO being dispersed over a larger surface area speeding up the transfer amongst colony members leading to their demise. 

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WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF SAS PRO VERSUS SPEAR AND INJECT FOR TREATING FIRE ANTS?

The closest comparable treatment method to the Sundew SAS PRO Rapid Response Direct Nest Treatment is the practice employed by the Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program where nests are ‘spear and injected’ with a toxicant mix. 

The spear and inject method:

  • Requires specialised training,
  • Requires specialised equipment,
  • Requires mixing and creating the toxicant injection treatment,
  • Requires cleaning up of equipment used prior to end of day,
  • Requires disposal of unused chemical toxicant mix,
  • Requires extreme amounts of physically repetitive manual labour,
  • Requires each nest to be dug up and soil then replaced back,
  • Takes approximately 7 minutes per nest to complete,
  • Requires 10 litres of fipronil spray mixture to be injected/drenched into and over the nest.

Using the Sundew SAS PRO Rapid Response Direct Nest Treatment methodology it only takes seconds to apply the product and requires 20 times less fipronil per nest in the environment. 

Not only is this method significantly reducing the chemical treatment in the ground, but also massively reducing the cost while seriously increasing the output capacity (the number of nests possible to treat in a day) per user.

The Sundew SAS PRO Rapid Response Direct Nest Treatment methodology:

  • Does not require specialised equipment,
  • Does not require specialised training,
  • Does not require cleaning up afterwards,
  • Does not require physical exertion,
  • Can be applied in seconds 
  • No preparation time required

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WHERE IS SAS PRO MADE?

Sundew SAS PRO fipronil granular ant treatment was Australia’s first fipronil granular ant treatment.  Invented by Sundew Solutions Pty Ltd it was first introduced to the professional pest segment in December 2012 and quickly became the leading granular ant treatment trusted by pest management professionals.

SAS PRO was researched and developed in Australia for Australian conditions and ant species.

SAS PRO is proudly made in Australia by a 100% Australian family owned business.

SAS PRO is formulated utilising a proprietary four stage process ensuring the product is made to exacting performance characteristics unique to this product.

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WHO ARE SUNDEW SOLUTIONS?

Sundew Solutions Pty Ltd was first established in March 2009 and is a leading research and product development business based in Melbourne, Australia. 

Sundew is a 100% Australian owned business. 

Sundew Solutions core business is based in developing solutions for the professional pest control market segment of Australia.

Sundew is one of the largest family-owned Australian businesses supplying pest solutions to the professional segment. 

Sundew’s pest solutions are distributed nationally through Agserv, David Grays, Garrards and Globe Australia. 

You can learn more about Sundew here>

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Sundew Media Release Inquiries and Other Public Relations Questions

For all inquiries relating to media releases and other public relations activities regarding red imported fire ants and yellow crazy ants for Sundew Solutions Pty Ltd please contact:

Brent Whyte or Jack Mallen-Cooper

Whyte Public Relations

T: +61 2 9901 4306

E: whytepr@whytepr.com.au

W: www.whytepr.com.au

 

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