Abstract
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed an effective device and technique to provide large volumes of hot water (approximately heated at 100 C) on-demand making it possible to control fire ants and other insects at the scale of hectares without using pesticides. The UCF Antheater(TM) immediately kills fire ant colonies and provides comparable long-term control rates of the pests in small areas to chemical controls.
Fire ants are an ecological and financial disaster throughout the United States. These pests upset and destroy natural ecosystems, are considered a public health threat, and have detrimental economic effects in agriculture (large mounds damage machinery), ranching (loss of newborn livestock), and recreation and tourism.
A specific problem of fire ant control is how to do so without causing environmental damage. There are various methods, including chemical poisons such as AMDRO, which are well-known and are used frequently; however, they not only pollute the environment but also indiscriminately eliminate both native and foreign species.
Technical Details
The UCF invention is a variably sized unit for both small-, medium- and large-scale applications. It can be used as an alternative to all forms of chemical mound treatments and broadcast chemical baits for fire ant control in areas unsuitable for pesticide application or where immediate control is desirable. This device can also control ground-dwelling insects such as yellow jackets, termites, or wasps.
The device consists of a small diesel motor, a diesel-fueled, on-demand heating coil, with thermostatic control, a pumping mechanism, a tank (150-, 250- or 450-gallon), an insulated hose, and a pressure wash wand—plumbed to provide flow to the heating unit and out of the hose. The various components are mounted on a trailer meant to be towed on- or off-road with a standard 2-inch ball receiver.
Stage of Development
Three working prototypes of the invention are available: small, midsize and large trailers. The midsize or large trailer can be towed by a half-ton pickup truck. The other is a smaller trailer can be towed by a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
Benefit
Eco-friendlyNon-toxicImmediate death of fire ant coloniesLong-term fire ant controlMarket Application
Control of ants or other ground-dwelling arthropods that are vulnerable to high temperatures and that live in mediums such as soil or mulch that allow passage of water. Example areas:
ParksRecreation AreasAgricultureRanchingPublications
Targeted removal of ant colonies in ecological experiments, using hot water, Â Journal of Insect Science, 7(41): p. 1-12. July 2007
