The Scary Truth About Little Fire Ants on Kauai
October is Stop The Ant Month, and we want to get serious about the Little Fire Ant crisis that is plaguing our island. Out of growing concern about the issue, Kauai Seascapes Nursery has decided to stop importing plants we typically get from the other islands, including the Big Island. Unfortunately, there are still nurseries on Kauai actively importing from the Big Island, risking the chance of importing Little Fire Ants, which are known to travel on plants. We need your help to fight this issue. Reach out to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and voice your concerns that they are not restricting plants being brought in from the Big Island. Learn more about LFA and how to be on the lookout in our article, and help us STOP THE ANT.
Little Fire Ants (LFA) Are No Strangers To Hawaii
Locations of reported LFA populations on Kauai, Courtesy of KISC
The Big Island has struggled with LFA since the 1990s. They are now well-established on the island and pose a threat to other islands, as they are avid “hitch-hikers.” These ants are known to spread to other places through plants and cargo transported inter-island. Kaua’i was first exposed to LFA in 1999 after palms were imported from the Big Island. Other LFA populations have been reported in 2019 and were determined to be eradicated in 2021. But this hasn’t stopped them from coming to Kaua’i.
In recent years, colonies have been reported in Moloa’a, Wailua, and the south shore. Koloa and Omao are the latest areas to be reported as having LFA populations. Once a fire ant colony is reported, the Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC) can step in to treat and eradicate them. The treatment process requires ongoing coordination and could require businesses to follow new procedures and practices. Unfortunately, there is no law requiring businesses to report the presence of LFA to their customers. This is why it is up to each individual consumer to test their plants and soil products, and report any LFA sightings to KISC.
They’re Small But They Pack A Mean Punch
Little Fire Ants cause damage to plants, people, and pets
An entire Little Fire Ant colony can fit in a single macadamia nut. While the majority of ant populations nest underground, Little Fire Ants nest in plants, especially tree limbs. Disturb the wrong tree and you’ll quickly learn why they are a huge threat. These suckers are tiny, in fact, half the size of a sesame seed! You’ll hardly notice them before it’s too late. Their stings cause painful welts that can last weeks. They can also harm pets and livestock, causing blindness in animals and even death. Their populations spread quickly if not contained.
Not only are they harmful to humans and animals, but these ants also damage your plants. They farm scale and other parasitic insects, which weaken your plants. They also excrete honeydew onto plants which creates mold. Little Fire Ants are a nightmare for farmers, who struggle to control the spread of the colonies in their fields. They can wreak havoc on their crops and livestock, not to mention cause immense pain when working in infested fields and orchards.
We All Need To STOP THE ANT
Use peanut butter on a stick and wait at least 45 minutes to check for LFA.
With the concern of Little Fire Ants growing on Kaua’i, we’re remaining vigilant here at Seascapes. As of October 1st 2024, we are requiring all of our plants to be tested for LFA before the customer can bring them home. This means customers cannot immediately take home their plants. The test takes 1 hour to perform, so customers will have to return later that day or the next day to retrieve their plants. We have reconsidered what we bring to the island and have decided to stop importing our fruit trees altogether because of the high risk all plants imported from the Big Island pose. We don't want to bring in these threatening pests, and we hope other businesses that import plants will follow suit.
Since there are no regulations currently in place that prevent the import of contaminated material, we all have to be aware of LFA and take action. That’s why we need your help. The Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC) is telling customers to "Treat anything you bring onto your property as if it's contaminated." Quarantine any plants you bring home and inspect the soil and plant for signs of pests. You can also test your plants and your yard for Little Fire Ants with one simple ingredient: Peanut Butter. LFA aren’t attracted to sugar like other ants, but they are attracted to peanut butter. What you’ll need is a wooden stick like a chopstick or popsicle stick, and regular peanut butter (not natural or fat-free).
Use a wooden chopstick or stir stick and dip in peanut butter
Place peanut butter sticks around yard in shady areas or at the base of your plants
Leave sticks out for 45 minutes to 1 hour
Collect sticks and place in plastic bag
Freeze bag for 24 hours
Write your name, location, and phone number on bag, and mail or drop off bag to HDOA or KISC office
Testing kits are available here at the nursery. Ask our sales staff for one!
You can also get a testing kit from KISC: 7370 Kuamoo Rd, Wailua. 808-821-1490 or email kisc@hawaii.edu
If KISC contacts you and confirms you have Little Fire Ants, there are several practices you can use to get rid of them. The product KISC recommends is Amdro Fire Ant Killer for Mounds. This product can be applied as a broadcaster, which is the recommended application use for treating Fire Ants. Do not use the Amdro Ant Killer for Outdoor Home Perimeter, as it is labeled for treating a perimeter and not the infested areas. Maxforce Complete is another granular bait product that you can find on Amazon.