They are 1 16 of an inch range or light brown in color and produce large painful raised red welts when it stings. Little fire ant wasmannia auropunctata since the discovery of wasmannia auropunctata on the big island in 1999 the hawaii department of agriculture has enacted quarantine regulations to prevent the shipment of potted plants infested with little fire ant from the big island to other islands.
Little fire ant wasmannia auropunctata is a serious pest because this tiny ant can easily spread undetected into yards and homes parks landscapes vacant properties and forests.
Little fire ant hawaii control. On oahu there were at least 4 detections of previously undiscovered infestations of lfa while on maui the 14th detection on the island was announced in september. This small red ant is 3 6 mm 1 8 1 4 in long much larger than the little fire ant. Some of the workers will have proportionately large heads.
Each of the new infestations was found thanks to the vigilance of residents reporting them to state. A microscope is required to tell the difference between the tropical and other fire ants. October is spot the ant stop the ant month in hawaiʻi.
The tropical fire ant is common throughout hawaii. Invasion little fire ants in hawaii. Little fire ants lfa have kept hawaii officials busy in 2019.
Little fire ants are smaller than our local topical fire ant which is generally found in warm areas near the beach. This annual campaign asks residents and businesses to be aware that invasive ants must be detected and controlled. Ant that is orange red to light brown in color all workers are 1 5 mm in length half.
Tropical fire ant solenopsis geminata. We are asking people to collect ants from their property freeze them overnight to kill them then mail or deliver the ants to officials for identification. Little fire ants the array of pesticides on the shelf at your local garden exchange or hardware store can be mystifying.
Little fire ants deliver a very painful sting similar to an electric shock to people pets livestock and even marine wildlife such as sea turtles and ground. There are dozens of different proprietary products available and it can be very difficult to know which is the right one for your situation.