Chemical control, Wasmannia, little fire ant

June 2012. A post containing information on a product called Tango, the Hawaii Ant Lab get drew some comments from members.

www.littlefireants.com/index_files/tango.htm

A member said that the articvle reminded him of the product Ant Rid, a liquid bait used in Australai (and probably elsewhere).How safe is the ingredients in Tango. The article says that S-methoprene is one of the safest insecticides available today, but what does that mean?

A member from FAO Pest and Pesticide Management Group said in response:

While the insecticide Tango with its active ingredient methoprene falls under the Toxicity Class WHO (a.i.) U; EPA (formulation) IV = unlikely to present acute hazard in normal use; the insecticide Ant-Rid Bait used to control ants in Australia with its active ingredient Fipronil (phenylpyrazole) has been classified in Toxicity Class WHO (a.i.) II; EPA (formulation) II = moderately hazardous! It has been banned for use in many countries because it is highly toxic to honeybees, and other pollinators, both by direct contact and by ingestion.