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At Stop The Toxic Fire Ant Program, we are committed to protecting our community, environment, and natural resources from the adverse effects of the National Fire Ant Eradication Plan. Our mission is to raise awareness, demand transparency, and advocate for safer, more effective fire ant treatment solutions that do not compromise human health, wildlife, or our ecosystems. Through our interviews, we delve into the complexities of toxic fire ant programs, explore the impact of fire ant poison, and discuss strategies for treating fire ants safely. Join us as we bring critical information to light and work towards more sustainable and responsible pest management practices.

Chemical Facts

Scientific studies and research related to the Fire Ant Eradication Program.

Pyriproxyfen and S-Methoprene are both insect growth regulators which work via interrupting the fire ants life cycle eg. reducing fertility of reproductive females or viability of eggs. Fire ant nests then die over time through natural die-off of existing workers. IGR’S are known to be oestrogen analogues. 

PYRIPROXYFEN

From: An investigation on some toxic effects of pyriproxyfen in adult mail mice; (Shahid; Zaidi; Akbar and Saeed); Iranian Journal Basic Med Sci, 2019 Sep; 22 (9): 997 – 1003 

  • Widely used to combat arthropods, including insects, weeds, and annual grasses.
  • It has high stability in the environment, and persistence via food chain causes detrimental effects on non-target species.
  • Pyriproxyfen caused reduction in body weight gain as well as damage to testicular architecture in mice and thus may potentially interfere with spermatogenesis. Findings in an outbred strain of mice can be extrapolated fairly reliably to the human model.

From: Use of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry of Adipose Tissue for Detection of Bioaccumulation of Pyriproxyfen in Adults of Lithobates catesbeianus; Nimet et al; Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2021) 107:911-916

  • Adult frogs exposed to the standard dose recommended by the World health Organisation (WHO) showed bioaccumulation of pyriproxyfen in adipose tissue significantly higher than control animals. Baiting six times with pyriproxyfen will thus result in significant bioaccumulation. 
  • Other studies in fish have had similar findings.

From:  Fate of pyriproxyfen in Soils and Plants; Devilliers; Toxics 2020, 8, 20; doi:103390/toxics8010020; www.mdpi.com/journal/toxics

  • This study concludes that it is compulsory to study the behaviour of pyriproxyfen for a given crop in the growing conditions of a specific area to estimate whether the established pre-harvest time ensures that the residue levels are below the maximum residue level (MRL) that is the highest concentration of pesticide that is legally tolerated in or on food when it is applied under good agricultural practices. Thus, recently, EFSA proposed 0.4 mg/kg as MRL for the tomato and 0.7 mg/kg for the citrus. The fire ant program is spraying pyriproxyfen at 5g/kg. On the permit it states: Produce that is traded for human consumption which has direct contact with the bait must be washed after harvest and prior to marketing. This might not be so helpful as according to the paper by Devillers (2020), the half-life of pyriproxyfen in plants is ranged from less than one week to about three weeks, depending on the crop and the experimental conditions.

From: Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Viability and Increase of Intracellular Lipids in HepG2 Cell Line; Lamberti et al, Occup Med Health Aff 2014, 2:5

  • This study suggests that pyriproxyfen is strongly cytotoxic to human hepatocytes (liver cells). This concurs with the toxicity label for the chemical which lists the general human health issues as possible liver toxicant, possible blood toxicant and endocrine issues – estrogenic effect.

From: Ultimate fate and toxicological consequences of insecticide pyriproxyfen and its metabolites in soil ecosystem; Kumari et al; 2021; https://doi.org/10.10166/j.envadv.2021.100040

  • Pyriproxyfen can degrade into approximately 10 metabolytes. Of six studied, their residues persisted for more than 30 days in soil with half lives varying from 2.6 to 30 days. Metabolites C, E and F caused toxicity to soil enzymes. Considering the persistence behaviour and toxicological consequences of metabolites, further investigations are needed for preventing their harmful effect on non-target organisms and associated environment.

From: The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony in field; Chen et al, 2016, Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology

  • A study by Chen et al (2016) indicate that pyriproxyfen has negative impacts on both larval and adult honey bees and royal jelly production, especially under high pyriproxyfen concentrations. 

From: Indirect transfer of pyriproxyfen to European honeybees via an autodissemination approach; Kanchariapalli et al; PLoS Negl Trop Dis 15 (1D): e0009824. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009824

  • The argument by the program is that honey bees will not go for the baits. However, they do not have to eat the bait directly. A study of autodissemination of pyriproxyfen found that pyriproxyfen treated mosquitoes can contaminate nectar sources, which results in the indirect transfer of pyriproxyfen to European honey bees.

From: The effects of the insecticide Pyriproxyfen on germination, development and growth responses of maize seedlings; Coskun et al

  • A study looked at the effect of pyriproxyfen and suggests that excessive and uncontrolled usage of pesticide pyriproxyfen results in phytotoxic effects by inducing some morphological, anatomical, physiological and metabolic processes. In addition, as chemical compounds accumulate, pyriproxyfen is thought to adversely affect all living beings feeding on plants that are exposed to chemicals, and also negatively affects the environmental factors such as, soil, air and water.

From: Environmental fate and properties of pyriproxyfen; Sullivan et al; California Environmental Protection Agency, J. Pestic. Sci., 33 (4), 339-350 (2008) DOI: 10.1584/jpestics.R08-02

  • Pyriproxyfen is toxic to insects during their embryonic, last larval, or reproductive stages and is particularly effective against pests that are relatively insensitive to conventional insecticides, such as whiteflies, mealworms, scales and thrips.
  • If released in water, pyriproxyfen adsorbs onto suspended solids and organic matter and retains biological activity for up to two months.
  • The low solubility, high patrician coefficients, and hydrophobicity of pyriproxyfen are consistent with chemicals that are known to be environmentally persistent.
  • In anaerobic conditions, such as brackish waters or sediments, pyriproxyfen is much more stable, immutable, and toxic to aquatic inbertebrates. 

Given its potential to persist, prudence should be used when applying pyriproxyfen to or near water bodies, and precautions must be taken to avoid or mitigate drift or runoff to surface waters.

Pyriproxyfen Research Articles

  • An investigation on some toxic effects of pyriproxyfen in adult male mice
  • Distance® ANT BAIT safety instructions
  • Pyriproxyfen — toxicity, side effects, diseases, and environmental impacts
    Tuesday, November 21, 2017 by Frances Bloomfield
  • An investigation on some toxic effects of pyriproxyfen in adult male mice
    Read more
  • Use of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Adipose Tissue for Detection of Bioaccumulation of Pyriproxyfen in Adults of Lithobates catesbeianus
    Read more
  • Fate of Pyriproxyfen in Soils and Plants
    Read more
  • Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Viability and Increase of Intracellular Lipids in HepG2 Cell Line
    Read more
  • Ultimate fate and toxicological consequences of insecticide pyriproxyfen and its metabolites in the soil ecosystem
    Read more
  • The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony in the field
    Read more
  • Indirect transfer of pyriproxyfen to European honeybees via an autodissemination approach
    Read more
  • The Effects of the insecticide pyriproxyfen on germination, development, and growth responses of maize seedlings
    Read more
  • Product Label, Pyriproxyfen 0.86 EC VPP Insect Growth Regulator – Phytotoxicity noted
    Read more
  • Comparative attractiveness of two pyriproxyfen-based ant baits (Distance® and Distance® Plus) to invasive and nuisance ants in Australia
    Read more
  • S-Methoprene Information

News Reports

Explore our news articles for the most recent developments on the Toxic Fire Ant Program, including updates on fire ant eradication efforts and insights into the impact of fire ant poison. Stay informed about how these issues affect our community and environment, and find out what actions are being taken to address them.

A new trial is underway to eradicate the invasive yellow crazy ant population in Brisbane.

A senate hearing has been told fipronil, which is used to kill fire ants, can remain in the environment for up to three years. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

Some properties in Queensland are now infested with thousands of fire ant nests. Photo: HANDOUT/STUART WEBBER

Explore Now

Research & Articles

Scientific studies and research related to the Fire Ant Eradication Program. 

Pyriproxyfen

  • An investigation on some toxic effects of pyriproxyfen in adult male mice
    Read More

  • Use of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of Adipose Tissue for Detection of Bioaccumulation of Pyriproxyfen in Adults of Lithobates catesbeianus
    Read More

  • Fate of Pyriproxyfen in Soils and Plants
    Read More

  • Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Viability and Increase of Intracellular Lipids in HepG2 Cell Line
    Read More

  • Ultimate fate and toxicological consequences of insecticide pyriproxyfen and its metabolites in soil ecosystem
    Read More

  • The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony in field
    Read More

  • Indirect transfer of pyriproxyfen to European honeybees via an autodissemination approach
    Read More

  • The Effects of the insecticide pyriproxyfen on germination, development and growth responses of maize seedlings
    Read More

  • Product Label, Pyriproxyfen 0.86 EC VPP Insect Growth Regulator – Phytotoxicity noted
    Read More

  • Comparative Attractiveness of Two Pyriproxyfen-Based Ant Baits (Distance® and Distance® Plus) to Invasive and Nuisance Ants in Australia
    Read More

  • S-Methoprene Information
    Read Mor

Methoprene

  • Effects of the juvenile hormone analogue Methoprene on rate of behavioral development, foraging performance, and navigation in honey bees (Apis mellifera)
    Read More

  • Effects of ultraviolet light and Methoprene on survival and development of Rana pipiens
    Read More

  • Environmental safety review of Methoprene and bacterially-derived pesticides commonly used for sustained mosquito control
    Read More

  • PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD – 1984 Sponsored jointly by FAO and WHO
    Read Mor

S-METHOPRENE

  • Indicated in frog deformities​
  • Accelerates onset of flight and foraging behaviour in worker bees but also reduced foraging span, total time spent foraging, and the number of completed foraging trips
  • Anecdotal community evidence of frog population decline
  • NRIFAEP is using studies from mosquito control to suggest the safety of s-methoprene in fire ant control. However, concentrations of the active ingredient used in mosquito control are much lower than those being used in fire ant control
  • Residue in plants has been observed up to 30 days after application in alfalfa
  • At application rates of 5g/kg (as per the fire ant program), Methoprene is toxic to gray tree frog
  • Insects can develop resistance to Methoprene in as little as 8 generations, as shown in laboratory studies
  • Cross-resistance to other insecticides may develop once insects are resistant to Methoprene
  • Methoprene attracts and negatively affects 5 native ant species in Australia, considered a beneficial by-product since these ants are pests; however, the absence of native ants affects other species (e.g., echidna food source)
  • Where native ants have been removed, anecdotal evidence in SEQ shows fire ants quickly recolonize the area without competition, as experienced in Texas, USA (University of Texas Fire Ant Extension Program)
  • The withholding periods set for organic farms appear to be based only on the primary chemical breakdown, not metabolites
  • The science of ‘Withholding periods’ for organic farms has been changed, via two Organic Notices, first to 12 months and then to 3 weeks
  • The permit for S-Methoprene issued to the NRIFAEP states that property owners are to be instructed to wash their crops at harvest and prior to consumption/marketing. This is not being done and contradicts the Material Safety Data sheets, which state that S-Methoprene is not to come into contact with products for consumption

S-METHOPRENE

  • Indicated in frog deformities​
  • Accelerates onset of flight and foraging behaviour in worker bees but also reduced foraging span, total time spent foraging, and the number of completed foraging trips
  • Anecdotal community evidence of frog population decline
  • NRIFAEP is using studies from mosquito control to suggest the safety of s-Methoprene in fire ant control. However, concentrations of active ingredient used in mosquito control are much lower than are being used in fire ant control
  • Residue in plants has been observed up to 30 days after application in alfalfa
  • At application rates of 5g/kg (as per the fire ant program), Methoprene is toxic to gray tree frogs.
  • Methoprene residues have been found in poultry tissue and eggs
  • Laboratory studies have shown that insects can develop resistance to Methoprene in as little as 8 generations
  • Once resistant to Methoprene, cross-resistance to other insecticides may develop
  • Methoprene has been proven to be attractive and have a negative effect on 5 native ant species in Australia, but since these ants are deemed to be pests, this is considered to be a beneficial by-product of Methoprene use. Without native ants, other species are affected (e.g., echidna food source)
  • Where native ants have been removed, anecdotal evidence in SEQ shows that fire ants quickly recolonize the area in the absence of competition. This has been the experience and lesson learned the hard way in Texas, USA (University of Texas Fire Ant Extension Program)
  • The withholding periods set for organic farms appear to be based only on the primary chemical breakdown, not metabolites
  • The science of ‘Withholding periods’ for organic farms have been changed, via two Organic Notices, first to 12 months and then to 3 weeks
  • The permit for S-Methoprene issued to the NRIFAEP states that property owners are to be instructed to wash their crops at harvest and prior to consumption/marketing. This is not being done and contradicts the Material Safety Data sheets which state that s-Methoprene is not to come into contact with products for consumption
Explore More

PYRIPROXYFEN

From: An investigation on some toxic effects of pyriproxyfen in adult male mice; (Shahid; Zaidi; Akbar and Saeed); Iranian Journal Basic Med Sci, 2019 Sep; 22 (9): 997 - 1003

  • Widely used to combat arthropods, including insects, weeds, and annual grasses.
  • It has high stability in the environment, and persistence via food chain causes detrimental effects on non-target species.
  • Pyriproxyfen caused reduction in body weight gain as well as damage to testicular architecture in mice and thus may potentially interfere with spermatogenesis. Findings in an outbred strain of mice can be extrapolated fairly reliably to the human model.

From: Use of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-mass Spectrometry of Adipose Tissue for Detection of Bioaccumulation of Pyriproxyfen in Adults of Lithobates catesbeianus; Nimet et al; Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (2021) 107:911-916

  • Adult frogs exposed to the standard dose recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed bioaccumulation of pyriproxyfen in adipose tissue significantly higher than control animals. Baiting six times with pyriproxyfen will thus result in significant bioaccumulation.
  • Other studies in fish have had similar findings.

From: Fate of pyriproxyfen in Soils and Plants; Devilliers; Toxics 2020, 8, 20; doi:103390/toxics8010020; www.mdpi.com/journal/toxics

  •  This study concludes that it is compulsory to study the behaviour of pyriproxyfen for a given crop in the growing conditions of a specific area to estimate whether the established pre-harvest time ensures that the residue levels are below the maximum residue level (MRL) that is the highest concentration of pesticide that is legally tolerated in or on food when it is applied under good agricultural practices. Thus, recently, EFSA proposed 0.4 mg/kg as MRL for the tomato and 0.7 mg/kg for the citrus. The fire ant program is spraying pyriproxyfen at 5g/kg. On the permit it states: Produce that is traded for human consumption which has direct contact with the bait must be washed after harvest and prior to marketing. This might not be so helpful as according to the paper by Devillers (2020), the half-life of pyriproxyfen in plants is ranged from less than one week to about three weeks, depending on the crop and the experimental conditions.

From: Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Viability and Increase of Intracellular Lipids in HepG2 Cell Line; Lamberti et al, Occup Med Health Aff 2014, 2:5

  •  This study suggests that pyriproxyfen is strongly cytotoxic to human hepatocytes (liver cells). This concurs with the toxicity label for the chemical which lists the general human health issues as possible liver toxicant, possible blood toxicant and endocrine issues – estrogenic effect.

From: Ultimate fate and toxicological consequences of insecticide pyriproxyfen and its metabolites in soil ecosystem; Kumari et al; 2021; https://doi.org/10.10166/j.envadv.2021.100040

  •  Pyriproxyfen can degrade into approximately 10 metabolites. Of six studied, their residues persisted for more than 30 days in soil with half-lives varying from 2.6 to 30 days. Metabolites C, E, and F caused toxicity to soil enzymes. Considering the persistence behaviour and toxicological consequences of metabolites, further investigations are needed for preventing their harmful effect on non-target organisms and associated environment.

From: The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony in field; Chen et al, 2016, Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology

  • A study by Chen et al (2016) indicates that pyriproxyfen has negative impacts on both larval and adult honey bees and royal jelly production, especially under high pyriproxyfen concentrations.

From: Indirect transfer of pyriproxyfen to European honeybees via an autodissemination approach; Kanchariapalli et al; PLoS Negl Trop Dis 15 (1D): e0009824. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009824

  •  The argument by the program is that honey bees will not go for the baits. However, they do not have to eat the bait directly. A study of autodissemination of pyriproxyfen found that pyriproxyfen-treated mosquitoes can contaminate nectar sources, which results in the indirect transfer of pyriproxyfen to European honey bees.

Other chemicals used in fast acting baits are:

  • Indoxacarb – banned in EU and China ​
  • Hydramethylnon – linked to cancer by US EPA​
  • Fipronil – a PFAS pesticide. PFAS are recognised as Class 1 carcinogens. Banned from outdoor use in EU.​

    The safety of deployment within metres of waterways is questionable for pyriproxyfen and fipronil. EPA in NSW has refused to do any monitoring of rivers at all.​

From: The effects of the insecticide Pyriproxyfen on germination, development and growth responses of maize seedlings; Coskun et al

  •  A study looked at the effect of pyriproxyfen and suggests that excessive and uncontrolled usage of pesticide pyriproxyfen results in phytotoxic effects by inducing some morphological, anatomical, physiological and metabolic processes. In addition, as chemical compounds accumulate, pyriproxyfen is thought to adversely affect all living beings feeding on plants that are exposed to chemicals, and also negatively affects the environmental factors such as soil, air, and water.

From: Environmental fate and properties of pyriproxyfen; Sullivan et al; California Environmental Protection Agency, J. Pestic. Sci., 33 (4), 339-350 (2008) DOI: 10.1584/jpestics.R08-02

  •  Pyriproxyfen is toxic to insects during their embryonic, last larval, or reproductive stages and is particularly effective against pests that are relatively insensitive to conventional insecticides, such as whiteflies, mealworms, scales, and thrips.
  •  If released in water, pyriproxyfen adsorbs onto suspended solids and organic matter and retains biological activity for up to two months.
  •  The low solubility, high partition coefficients, and hydrophobicity of pyriproxyfen are consistent with chemicals that are known to be environmentally persistent.
  •  In anaerobic conditions, such as brackish waters or sediments, pyriproxyfen is much more stable, immutable, and toxic to aquatic invertebrates.
  •  Given its potential to persist, prudence should be used when applying pyriproxyfen to or near water bodies, and precautions must be taken to avoid or mitigate drift or runoff to surface waters.
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