10 | SUNRAYS MARCH 2015
ONLINE:
SCTEXAS.ORG
Several recent outbreaks of infectious diseases
have raised questions on how to best protect
ourselves. A panel of health professionals will
lead a discussion on reducing the odds of ill-
ness at home, in the community and abroad,
and what to do if infection occurs. This important town hall
will take place Thursday, April 23.
CA NEWS
Save the Date – EMC Town Hall:
Infectious Diseases
Thursday, April 23, 10 a.m., SCB
Submitted by Dan Dodson,
Emergency Management Committee
AEDs Added at Legacy Hills and
Cowan Creek Pavilions
New automated external defibrillators (AED) have been placed
at Legacy Hills and Cowan Creek Pavilions for use in medi-
cal emergencies. Sun City Texas now maintains 16 AEDs in
various community areas. The use of these units can positively
affect the outcome for individuals having a cardiac episode.
The operation of these units is designed to be simple to use for
a layperson with no training; however, training is suggested.
The Sun City Texas Emergency Management Committee
sponsors monthly training on CPR, first aid and AED usage.
There is a small fee for supplies and materials. See the EMC
section on the Sun City website for class offerings.
2015 Firewise Volunteer
Kick-Off Meeting
Wednesday, March 11, 9 a.m. to noon
Berry Creek Trail, at Sun City Boulevard and Great
Frontier Drive
In an effort to keep our native Common Areas Firewise, we
are asking residents to assist once per week with small brush
clearing jobs that do not require any power tools. Please consider
signing up for small cedar removals, deadwood clearing and
fun – all you need is a good pair of work shoes, pruning shears
(or similar) and, of course, gloves. Whether you’re looking for
a couple of hours of exercise or just a little time outdoors, this
may be your perfect opportunity.
This spring, we will be concentrating on the Sun City nature
trail along Berry Creek. There is a large quantity of downed
wood which can be chipped and used on the trail.
Volunteers will meet CA landscape staff on-site, then sign in,
so as to keep track of volunteer hours for Sun City’s Firewise
certification. Following a brief safety meeting, we will begin
removing unwanted vegetation fromCommon Areas. Staff will
be on hand to assist with chipping of large items.
Weekly workdays will be scheduled onWednesdays throughout
the year. Once you sign up, you will receive email updates on
a weekly basis.
There will be cookies for the early birds! A reschedule will be
arranged in the event of inclement weather.
Yours in Landscaping,
Catrin
Howdy, neighbors! These are the months in which weather
conditions are favorable to apply fire ant bait throughout our
Common Areas, golf courses, and your residential lawns and
flower beds. As a reminder, the CA has posted signs in high
traffic locations throughout Sun City Texas. Your Neighbor-
hood Rep most likely has contacted you already to see if you
would like to participate in ant baiting.
How ant bait works
First, ant bait is not a poison. The active ingredient is an insect
growth regulator which works over a period of two to six weeks.
The bait is not harmful to your pet. The sandy, corn-sized bait
is coated with coconut oil, which is like candy for ants. When
temperatures stay in the 70s, ants are actively foraging for food
and will travel quite a distance to pick up the bait and carry
it back into the mound. It is shared with the soldiers and the
queen and, depending on how the growth regulator/inhibitor
is designed, it inhibits growth of the mouth so the worker ants
can no longer feed the soldiers and the queen and, basically,
they starve to death. Ants are quite smart and have shown
resistance to baits after a period of time; this is why you need
to make sure to switch brands of ant baits every time you apply
it―we schedule ant bait application twice a year.
Tips for successful applications
• Do not schedule any irrigation for 48 hours after application,
and wait until all dew has dried from turf areas.
• Do not apply if there is a chance of rain in the 2-day forecast.
• Do not apply if temperatures are below 60 degrees.
• Use small amounts of bait and broadcast with a small hand
spreader. If applying by hand be sure to wear plastic gloves
and follow label directions.
• Before purchasing a product, check with your lawn care com-
pany to see if this insect control is included in your contract.
• If you live in a Landscaped Maintained Home, you do not
need to do anything. Ant bait application is part of the
scope of work in the landscape contract. TCB Landscap-
ing will leave door tags at your residence so you know the
work has been done.
And, remember, if you see ant mounds during the year and
you wonder if the product is working―ant bait is a means of
control, not eradication.
For more information, visit fireant.tamu.edu.
March and April: Time to Apply Ant Bait
Submitted by Catrin Dubois, Landscape Superintendent
