Imported Fire Ant; Approved Treatments

We are amending the imported fire ant regulations to lengthen the certification period for containerized nursery stock treated with a 10 parts per million dosage of the insecticide tefluthrin in its granular formulation and to remove the 15 parts per million dosage rate for granular tefluthrin. These changes are based on research showing that a 10 parts per million dosage of granular tefluthrin is efficacious for 18 months, which is 12 months longer than the original certification period for that dosage and 6 months longer than the original certification period for a 15 parts per million dosage. Lengthening the certification period for the 10 parts per million dosage and removing the 15 parts per million dosage will reduce the amount of insecticide used, which will reduce the costs incurred by persons moving containerized nursery stock interstate from areas quarantined for the imported fire ant.