Little fire ants are finding their away across Hawaii, conquering the islands bit by bit. According to officials, the ants have mostly established a presence in Kauai, Maui and Oahu, leaving agricultural authorities struggling with how to get rid of the stinging pests.
Aptly described as one of the most obtrusive species in the world, the little fire ant was first spotted in the Big Island in 1999. It was too scattered in the area at the time so it was deemed impossible to eradicate. After 10 years passed, the little fire ant was next seen in Waihee, Maui. Since that time, authorities were only able to stop the species' advance just nine months ago.
Unfortunately, the little fire ant is harder to exterminate, appearing in Maui again in spring by traveling from the Big Island via cargo. But not only did it manage to get to Maui, it also established the biggest territory for the species, infesting more than 20 acres of wood in the island's northeastern coastline near Nahiku.
According to Randy Bartlett, Hawaii Invasive Species Council inter-agency facilitator, little fire ants took years to form colonies. Given the extent they have made Hawaii their home, it's going to take a lot of work to get little fire ants out and the State Department of Agriculture just doesn't have enough people to deal with the magnitude of the task. Not to mention that the ants can pop up anywhere, with identified colonies just possibly a small fraction of the real numbers little fire ants have. It's a small effort but Bartlett encouraged everyone to be more mindful of their lands, reporting infestations at the soonest time possible.
Should fire ants get a firm hold of Oahu, Hawaii is looking at $170 million in losses, according to a University of Hawaii study.
Little fire ants originated from South and Central America but made their way to the Pacific by hitching rides on imported plants. Thanks (or no thanks) to that, it has been enjoying 40 years of island living now. True to its name, little fire ants are small, sized just about the same size as half a sesame seed at 1.5mm in length. But despite their miniature size, they can deliver painful stings, leaving welts that last for weeks. Little fire ants are dangerous on their own but can bring double the harm by forming symbiotic relationships with other plant pests like white flies and aphids.
