Where are fire ants found in the US?
In the United States, imported fire ants currently inhabit all or parts of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. They are discovered sporadically in Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland.
Where were fire ants originally from?
South America
Red and black imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta, and S. richteri) are native to South America. They were accidentally introduced into the U.S. around the 1930’s through the port of Mobile, Alabama; probably in soil used for ships’ ballasts and have been spreading since.
Where did the red imported fire ant come from?
The red imported fire ant was imported around the 1930’s and has spread to infest more than 260 million acres of land in nine southeastern states, including all or portions of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma (Lofgren 1986, Sparks 1995).
Where are the fire ant colonies in Texas?
Shipments of nursery stock or soil from an infested area may relocate entire colonies or nests. The fire ant presently infests the eastern two-thirds of Texas and continues to spread westward.
Where do red fire ants nest in the desert?
Fire ants may nest in open areas near watered lawns and gardens, ball fields, golf courses, irrigated fields, playa lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Typically the red fire ant occupies a densely populated nest that comprises a mound of loose soil and a 36-inch deep and a 12- to 18-inch wide columnar network of tunnels and chambers.
What are the characteristics of imported fire ants?
Properly identifying ant species is the first step in determining the need and approach for control. Here are some identification characteristics of imported fire ants: Red imported fire ant. Side view of a fire ant. Nodes and stinger are visible. between the thorax and gaster (abdomen). These petioles are a fire ant characteristic.
The red imported fire ant was imported around the 1930’s and has spread to infest more than 260 million acres of land in nine southeastern states, including all or portions of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma (Lofgren 1986, Sparks 1995).
Where are fire ants found in the United States?
Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Puerto Rico. What’s at Risk?
Properly identifying ant species is the first step in determining the need and approach for control. Here are some identification characteristics of imported fire ants: Red imported fire ant. Side view of a fire ant. Nodes and stinger are visible. between the thorax and gaster (abdomen). These petioles are a fire ant characteristic.
How did they get rid of fire ants in Texas?
The fire ant presently infests the eastern two-thirds of Texas and continues to spread westward. Early efforts of county-wide fire ant eradication during the late 1960’s through the early 1970’s used insecticides such as heptachlor and mirex, but fire ants persisted and returned to areas previously treated.
