Selected economic impacts of the red imported fire ant in Texas

Given the economic impacts of RIFA in Texas, procedures need to be developed to determine the precise impacts of RIFA on agricultural crop production, wildlife populations, and electrical and communication equipment. There are several procedures and strategies that are currently utilized to diminish and deter RIFA in Texas, but issues such as the environmental impacts and effectiveness of their control increase the need for further analysis and examination of economically viable approaches for RIFA control. New products and procedures such as electric protection devices, biological control formulations, and creative methods to protect wildlife populations have only recently been developed. Accurate estimates ofthe economic impacts of RIFA on agricultural crop production, wildlife populations, and electrical and communication equipment are necessary to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of the new products and procedures being tested.