Extinguish Plus Fire Ant Bait

A granular bait that combines worker-ant control with an insect growth regulator affecting the queen and colony reproduction.

Work through the colony

Extinguish Plus is a granular fire ant bait built around two active ingredients with different roles. Hydramethylnon affects worker ants that feed on the bait. The insect growth regulator (S)-methoprene affects the queen’s reproductive system. Workers carry food back into the colony, allowing the bait to act beyond the ants visible at the mound. It is a colony-focused approach rather than a contact spray that only hits ants on the surface.

Foraging activity matters

Bait works when fire ants are actively feeding and will collect it. The manufacturer’s label says to apply when ants are active and foraging, and uses a simple observation to help determine whether they are feeding. If activity is low, wait and check again rather than scattering bait when ants are not taking food. Weather and soil conditions can affect surface activity, so timing is part of the treatment choice.

A granular option for approved outdoor sites

The label includes residential and commercial outdoor settings such as lawns and landscaped areas, with other locations subject to the listed restrictions. Granules can be broadcast over an approved treatment area or placed as directed for a specific situation. Choose the method that fits the site and label. The label also includes harvester ants, Argentine ants and bigheaded ants, with the application directions tied to the particular ant and site.

Bait distribution follows the job

The label separates broadcast application from individual mound work. Broadcasting places food across an approved area where workers can find it during foraging; mound treatment directs bait around a known colony as specified. The bait is intended to be collected, rather than forced into the mound like a liquid drench. Disturbing the nest is not the mechanism the product relies on, and mound size alone does not indicate how much bait workers will take.

Keeping bait attractive matters

The directions call for dry ground and weather that allows ants to collect the granules before rain or watering. This follows from the food-based delivery system: the worker must pick up usable bait and take it into the colony. The one-and-a-half-pound container supplies granular food particles carrying the active ingredients, not a mound-drench powder. Other labeled targets include harvester ants, Argentine ants and bigheaded ants, so identifying the ant helps select the appropriate application section.

Directions for use

It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Do not apply this product by any method not specified on this label. Do not apply this product in a way that will contact workers or other persons, either directly or through drift. Only protected handlers may be in the area during application. Keep people and pets out of the area during application. For any requirements specific to your State or Tribe, consult the agency responsible for pesticide regulation.

EXTINGUISH® PLUS controls imported and native fire ants and ants, including harvester ants, big-headed ants, and Argentine ants. EXTINGUISH® PLUS is for use on lawns, landscaped areas, golf courses, and other non-cropland areas such as airports, roadsides, cemeteries, commercial grounds, parks, kennels, school grounds, picnic grounds, athletic fields, campgrounds, and other recreational areas, as well as on grounds surrounding poultry houses (excluding runs and ranges), or corrals and other animal holding areas. Avoid direct exposure of animals to EXTINGUISH® PLUS. Do not graze or feed treated lawn or sod clippings to livestock.

Apply when ants are active and foraging (when soil temperature is greater than 60º F). To determine if ants are foraging (feeding), place a potato chip near the mound and observe if ants begin feeding. Do not apply product if ants do not feed within a few minutes. Repeat observation at a later time to evaluate if ants are feeding. Apply product when feeding occurs on the potato chip. Repeat applications as needed, but minimum retreatment interval for broadcast applications is 30 days. Wash hands with soap and water promptly after use. Apply product when area is dry from dew or irrigation. Do not irrigate for 24 hours after application. The bait will become unattractive to ants if it becomes wet. Ants that are actively foraging will begin picking up the bait soon after application. Grass Forage (Pasture and Rangeland) EXTINGUISH® PLUS may be applied to grass forage (pastures and rangeland) for the control of fire ants only in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Use on grass forage (pastures and rangeland) in states other than those listed is unlawful. See Outdoor Use table for application directions. Do not exceed 8 pounds per acre per year or more than 4 times a year, with a minimum retreatment interval of 90 days. Do not bale and cut treated pastures and rangelands for 7 days following application. These cutting and baling hay restrictions for pasture and rangeland do not apply when the treated pasture and rangeland is used solely to support COMPANION ANIMALS (e.g., horses, llamas, etc.). Companion animals grazed on treated areas cannot be used for food or feed. EXTINGUISH® PLUS may be used on uncultivated, agricultural, non-food crop and non-agricultural land. Container or Nursery Stock: Use EXTINGUISH® PLUS in and around container or field grown ornamental nursery and non-bearing nursery stock. EXTINGUISH® PLUS may also be applied to the soil around non-bearing fruit or nut trees. Do not harvest food/feed from non-bearing fruit/nut tree nursery stocks within 1 year of application, if by chance, they bear fruit within that time. Apply to sod farms or other types of commercial turf. Do not graze or feed grass clippings to livestock. Do not use on vegetable or other food crops, or commercial seed production. REFILLABLE BAIT STATIONS Use EXTINGUISH® PLUS in refillable bait stations. Place up to 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of EXTINGUISH® PLUS per refillable bait station. Locate stations along the perimeter of a structure or fence line with 1 station every 15 to 30 linear feet. Locate stations near potential pest entry points of a structure or near locations where pests are a problem. Examples include: weep holes, foundation vents, stairs, decks, patios, picnic areas, utility areas, and other areas frequented by pests. Inspect stations frequently and replenish bait if soiled or wet. Affix a sticker to each station indicating the contents of the station following filling. INDOOR USE EXTINGUISH® PLUS controls imported and native fire ants, as well as ants, including: harvester, big-headed, and Argentine ants. Use EXTINGUISH® PLUS in homes, residential, commercial and other structures, and in the non-food/ feed areas of institutional, warehousing, and commercial establishments, such as groceries and supermarkets, hotels and motels, hospitals and nursing homes, schools, laboratories, computer facilities, food storage areas, sewers, transportation equipment, pet shops or zoos, and in the inedible product areas of meat or poultry plants. Non-food/feed areas are areas such as garbage rooms, lavatories, floor drains (to sewers), entries and vestibules, offices, locker rooms, machine rooms, boiler rooms, garages, mop closets and storage (after canning or bottling). In the home, cover all food processing surfaces and utensils during treatment or wash thoroughly before use. Cover or remove exposed food. Wash hands with soap and water promptly after use. Using a duster or similar equipment, apply bait ONLY into cracks and crevices, or other inaccessible areas such as, but not limited to, structural voids, unfinished attics or crawl spaces. Apply 0.25 - 0.5 ounce (2 teaspoons - 1 tablespoon) per crack, crevice, or other inaccessible areas where ants are entering the structure or where ants are nesting. Apply evenly in unfinished attics and crawl spaces at a rate of 0.25 ounce (2 teaspoons) per 100 square feet only if the space is secured or otherwise inaccessible to children or pets.

Complete product label and site-specific directions: https://www.zoecon.com/-/media/project/oneweb/zoecon/files/product-labels/specimen/extinguish-plus-specimen-label-new.pdf

Cautions

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN CAUTION/PRECAUCION. HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS - CAUTION: Avoid contact with skin or clothing. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or using the toilet. Prolonged or frequently repeated skin contact may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. FIRST AID If on skin or clothing • Take off contaminated clothing. • Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15- 20 minutes. • Call a poison control center or doctor for treatment advice Have the product container or label with you when calling a poison control center or doctor, or going for treatment. You may also contact 1-800-347-8272 for emergency medical treatment information. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): WPS USES: Applicators and other handlers who handle this pesticide for any use covered by the Worker Protection Standard (40 CFR Part 170) - in general, agricultural-plant uses are covered -- must wear: Long-sleeved shirt and long pants, Waterproof gloves, Shoes plus socks Follow manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning/maintaining PPE. If no such instructions for washables, use detergent and hot water. Keep and wash PPE separately from other laundry. Engineering Controls Statements: When handlers use closed systems, enclosed cabs or aircraft in a manner that meets the requirements listed in the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides [40 CFR 170.240 (d)(4-6)], the handler PPE requirements may be reduced or modified as specified in the WPS. User Safety Recommendations: Users should: • Wash hands before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco, or using the toilet. • Remove clothing immediately if pesticide gets inside. Then wash thoroughly and put on clean clothing. • After handling this product, immediately wash the outside of gloves before removing them, then remove gloves and all other PPE. Immediately wash thoroughly and change into clean clothing. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS This product is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark. Do not contaminate water when disposing of equipment wash waters. Do not apply when weather conditions favor drift from target areas. AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS Use this product only in accordance with its labeling and with the Worker Protection Standard, 40 CFR Part 170. This Standard contains requirements for the protection of agricultural workers on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses, and handlers of agricultural pesticides. It contains requirements for training, decontamination, notification, and emergency assistance. It also contains specific instructions and exceptions pertaining to the statements on this label about personal protective equipment (PPE) and restricted-entry interval. The requirements in this box only apply to uses of this product that are covered by the Worker Protection Standard. Do not enter or allow worker entry into treated areas during the restricted-entry interval (REI) of 12 hours. PPE required for early entry to treated areas that is permitted under the Worker Protection Standard and that involves contact with anything that has been treated, such as plants, soil, or water is: • Coveralls • Waterproof gloves • Shoes plus socks NON-AGRICULTURAL USE REQUIREMENTS The requirements in this box apply to uses of this product that are NOT within the scope of the Worker Protection Standard for agricultural pesticides (40 CFR Part 170). The WPS applies when this product is used to produce agricultural plants on farms, forests, nurseries, or greenhouses. Keep unprotected persons or pets out of treated area during pesticide applications. USE RESTRICTIONS FOR ALL OUTDOOR BROADCAST APPLICATIONS: Maximum annual application per year - 4 Minimum retreatment interval: 30 days (90 day retreatment interval for application to Grass Forage (Pasture/Rangeland)) FOR ALL OUTDOOR APPLICATIONS Avoid making applications if it is likely to rain within 24 hours of application, except when applying directly adjacent to a structure that is permanently protected from rainfall by a covering, overhang, awning, or other structure. Avoid applying granules to impervious surfaces, except as a crack-and-crevice treatment. STORAGE AND DISPOSAL Do not contaminate water, food, or feed by storage or disposal. Storage: Store in cool, dry, secure place and keep container tightly closed. Store container away from pets. This product is formulated with oil. Prolonged exposure to air may turn oil rancid and reduce the attractiveness of the bait. Use within 3 months after opening. Pesticide Disposal: Wastes resulting from the use of this product may be disposed of on site or at an approved waste disposal facility. Container Disposal: Nonrefillable container. Do not reuse or refill this container. Triple rinse (or equivalent). Then offer for recycling, if available, or puncture and dispose of in a sanitary landfill, or by incineration, or if allowed by state or local authorities, by burning. If burned, stay out of smoke. General: Consult federal, state or local disposal authorities for approved alternative procedures.