Fire Ants LFA ...

[ericlp]

Check out the new PDF going around....

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/IP-LFA.pdf




Edited by - ericlp on 06/13/2007 23:02:12

[Carey]

Eric, at the invasive species meeting in Keeau (1 1/2 years ago??) they had some of the fire ants to look at (tiny little buggers). They knew then of infestations in Hamakua & Keaau (HPP?) & they had stated that only one ant killer worked...all I can remember was that the product start with an 'A', came in a white container w/red & black label.

Edited by - carey on 05/31/2007 10:21:13

[Les C]

From the quick websearching that I did, the the fire ant of highest concern is the RIFA - red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is supposed to be the real nasty bugger, although not yet found in the Islands. It's established in CA and there are many entry possibilities to the Islands. There are two other sp. of fire ant in the Islands besides the Little Fire Ant - LFA, Wasmannia auropunctata. The PDF above does note that there are 50 known LFA infestations in East Hawaii, but doesn't specify locations.

Carey, the pesticides noted in the PDF are Siege® Pro and Amdro® Pro (hydramethylnon). But there is a cautionary statement about using pesticides before knowing the extent of the fire ant presence.

More info:
RIFA
http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii...s_invicta/

RIFA and Tropical Fire Ant
http://pbin.nbii.gov/reportapest/maui/pe...solinv.htm

Little Fire Ant
http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/pi/ppc/2006-a...e-fire-ant

While recently in Costa Rica, I brushed up against some shrubs in the jungle while trying to photograph birds and felt my back "light up" as many tiny ants started biting. I don't know what species of ants these were but I imagine this was somewhat like what's described for LFA, except that my bites were irritating for only an hour or so, not two weeks!

Edited by - Les C on 05/31/2007 12:20:02

[macuu222]

I have them in my yard on 5th street in HPP. Been bitten a couple of times when digging a new hole to plant stuff and found that I dug into a nest. Fortuneately most of my property has very little dirt and so far it has been the only spot that I have discovered them.

[Shekelpal]

Aloha Eric,

I think you wrote to me some weeks ago regarding fire ants because I told you that the new black ant we have has gotten rid of all others. I said I would ask my neighbor, who has LFAs, if the new black ant got rid of his infestation. Sorry for the bad news, but no. Another neighbor said that the recommended pesticide seemed to be working. The other neighbor pours boiling water over the nest.

[ericlp]

Saturday, May 26, 2007 8:52 AM HST

By Stephens Media
Scientists are preparing for a fire ant invasion throughout the
Pacific, but while control methods are advancing, eradication remain
elusive.

More than 125 scientists gathered Thursday at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay
Resort and Spa for the first Pacific Invasive Ant Conference to
network, share research and discuss their struggles against invasive
ant species.

For the past 80 years, the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata,
has spread throughout the Pacific and infested 10 territories.

It is a severe threat to fragile island habitats and has reportedly
destroyed crops, displaced other insects, maimed animals and
terrorized people, affecting both biodiversity and tourism.

In Hawaii, the little fire ants were first seen in Puna in 1999. The
state Department of Agriculture tried to contain the initial
infestations, but the ants spread via potted plants carried to other
parts of the island.

There are about 50 known little fire ant infestations in East Hawaii.
West Hawaii is reportedly free of little fire ants, according to a
survey done last year by the Natural Resources Conservation Services.

For growers of tropical fruit and nut orchard crops, Amdro insecticide
can be applied in bait stations to combat small infestations. However,
Hawaii researchers are still trying to deal with larger infestations
that are extremely difficult to eradicate.

At Thursday's conference, Arnold Hara, an entomologist with the
University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and
Human Resources, voiced interest in a paste applicant being tested in
French Polynesia, saying it looks "promising."

[Kapohocat]

Let me tell you about those damn fire ants!

We got them by the tons, we fight them daily. They are so small you cant see them at all (well us old folks barely can). We used ant sprays around the perimter of the house, on thresholds, etc - and Amdro every where we can - keeps them at bay for about as long as it takes a crumb to fall somewhere... found that vinegar or listerine on a cotton ball works a bit for the sting. Damn who ever brought them here!

[AlohaSteven]

[Crossposted from the current Rat Lungworm Disease discussion thread]


This Saturday at the fall seed exchange there will be an informational session on rat lungworm disease in Hawaii. The talk will be brief, starting at 10am and running around 15 or 20 minutes; I am unsure if time will be available for specifically RLWD-related Q&A with the whole audience or not but there will definitely be several hours after the general session for individual Q&A. Or, if a group wants to discuss RLWD in more depth, then at 11am we can all wander aside, sit down, and do so as long as we want. I will have some handouts available describing recommended control measures and an overview of the biology involved.

Here is a link to the Fall Equinox Festival Seed Exchange 2012 event's website.
http://permaculture-hawaii.com/2012/06/842/
Much more is going on than just the RLWD update talk. Someone will be addressing LFA (little fire ants), a local foods contest, marimba music, potluck & networking with neighbors, and of course the seed exchange itself.


)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(

Full Frontal Freedom: Wrong Direction's "Disclosure"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSAGR0arBUo

)'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'( )'(