12-11-2023, 09:23 PM
Interesting article. My daughter, who lives on Maui, brought it to my attention. Could this mean there's reason to think the Big Island could still turn these menacing critters away? Or are we destined to be the land of lost causes forever? I hate these frickin' ants! More and more so every time I am bitten by the buggahs..
From.. https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-co...-east-maui
It’s been several years since the Maui Invasive Species Committee took a big leap in the battle against the little fire ant — and so far, so good. A pilot project is showing signs of success in Nāhiku on Maui.
Named for their painful sting that can blind animals, the tiny ants nest on the ground and up in trees, threatening Hawaiʻi's economy and environment.
The MISC and the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab devised a strategy to spread what they think is a recipe for success in the seemingly impossible mission to beat back the little fire ant.
In 2019, the MISC started using helicopters to spray bait aimed at sterilizing ant queens and curbing the stinging pests. They hoped the pancake batter-like substance would drip down from the trees to the ground.
"It appears that the little fire ants have been wiped out, and we have ceased our aerial operation. Our last treatment was back in February of this year," said Brooke Mahnken, the invasive ant supervisor for the MISC...
More at the link above..
From.. https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-co...-east-maui
It’s been several years since the Maui Invasive Species Committee took a big leap in the battle against the little fire ant — and so far, so good. A pilot project is showing signs of success in Nāhiku on Maui.
Named for their painful sting that can blind animals, the tiny ants nest on the ground and up in trees, threatening Hawaiʻi's economy and environment.
The MISC and the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab devised a strategy to spread what they think is a recipe for success in the seemingly impossible mission to beat back the little fire ant.
In 2019, the MISC started using helicopters to spray bait aimed at sterilizing ant queens and curbing the stinging pests. They hoped the pancake batter-like substance would drip down from the trees to the ground.
"It appears that the little fire ants have been wiped out, and we have ceased our aerial operation. Our last treatment was back in February of this year," said Brooke Mahnken, the invasive ant supervisor for the MISC...
More at the link above..