FireRANT

We are very excited about the warm summer ahead and pleasantly surprised with the mild winter that pasted.  But when all said and done, what does this mean for invasive species?

According to Australia's Courier-Mail, a warmer winter means more fire ants down under.  The warm, dry winter is preserving fire ants and giving them the means to make it through a season that is traditionally difficult for fire ants:

Dry conditions mean the exotic pest can burrow more than 10m down in search of moisture, making detection more difficult.

If you see one fire ant, beware, because where’s there’s one, there are bound to be many, many more.  Think about it: 10 meters is close to 32 feet!  If in fact fire ants are living more than 10 meters below the surface, the actual amount of fire ants nesting in one mound is endless.  A colony can number in the millions.

According to Jenny Bibo, community engagement manager of Australia’s Fire Ant Control Centre, fire ants are"on the downward trend but there is still a tail – ants are still out there to be found.” 

We can take this research and use it here in the States.  With neighborhood programs we have the opportunity to take these pests by storm.  Working on one home at a time will only help the problem sort term.

But we want to pose a question: Are fire ants on a downward spiral here in America?  Our bet is no.  What have you seen in your yards or labs?