From July through November 1972, 4 areas in Fort Bend Co., TX, the center of infestation of Solenopsis invicta Buren in the central coastal prairies of East Texas, were surveyed for infestation. Particular attention was given to type of habitat, vegetation, and degree of infestation. The survey showed this county to be heavily infested. The red imported fire ants were found in pastureland, cropland, and woodland, but they were more common in pastureland. An aerial application of standard (4X) mirex bait was made to 4 established research blocks in Fort Bend Co. in the fall of 1972 to control S. invicta. The total pretreatment count of mounds was 2169, an avg 542 mounds/block. Two blocks, treated when air and soil temperatures were favorable, showed good control (100–99%) at 8–8½ mo post-treatment. Two blocks, treated as temperatures began to drop, showed a slower kill and lesser control (88–93%) at 10 mo posttreatment.
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Summerlin et al. (1976) studied this question.