Many people in the Carolinas are familiar with red imported fire ants and their painful (and potentially deadly!) stings. Their large earthen mounds are a familiar sight in pastures, along roadsides, and most anywhere you look in the 22 U.S. states where they occur.
Originally from South America, these pesky ants have quickly spread throughout the southeastern U.S. since their arrival in Mobile, Alabama about 80 years ago. The red imported fire ant is one of the most researched insects of all time, which is not surprising given the many problems they can cause. They can damage electrical equipment, girdle young trees, clog mowers, invade homes during hot, dry weather, and cause injury or death to persons sensitive to their venom. On the positive side (yes, believe it or not, there is one!) they can be considered beneficial in some crops due to their voracious appetite for destructive plant pests.
Fire ants have made the headlines recently in North Carolina, where population increases in the Triad region have led to additional areas coming under quarantine. You can see the story here. When I read this, I was reminded of many conversations with folks in Oklahoma who had moved north from fire ant-infested areas in Texas. Fire ants were relatively new to southern Oklahoma when I was an entomologist there, and several people complained that they had not moved far enough north to escape them. I could offer few words of comfort….
A fire ant – actual size (with thanks to Dave Williams, USDA, retired)
Just how far north must one move to be guaranteed fire ant-free? Of course, there is a limit to the northward spread of the ants – just where that limit lies has been the subject of many studies. A recent paper by Fitzpatrick and others suggests that fire ants in North America inhabit regions that are colder, drier, and more seasonal than the areas they inhabit in South America (for some light reading, click here). Only time will tell how far north the sting of the fire ant will be felt.
Our policy at Black Pest Prevention is to proactively treat any fire ant mounds that can affect your home. Our technicians are equipped with the materials and the knowledge to provide you and your family protection from these invasive, stinging pests. Thanks for reading, and as always it’s our pleasure to serve you!