Little Fire Ant

 

littlefireantLittle fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata)

 

Regulatory Status: Hawaii Injurious Wildlife (HAR 124), HDOA Pest for Control (HAR 69A) 

Prevention and Control Category: KISC Target Species. OISC Target Species. MoMISC EDRR Species. MISC Target Species.

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.  Additionally, the Hawaii Ant Lab (HAL) was established to address invasive ant species in Hawaii including little fire ants (LFA).  HAL has developed innovative LFA control methods and works statewide to assist in management with offices in Hilo, Kona, and Honolulu. 

Description

This ant is a uniform yellow-red to light brown in color, all workers are 1.5 mm in length (half the size of a sesame seed, or as long as a penny is thick, about 1/16”).  Little fire ant does NOT build mounded dirt nests, and nests in a variety of habitats including in trees, around potted plants, irrigation lines, and in electrical boxes. They are slow-moving and easily dislodged from leaves, plants, and trees. They often sting on neck, arms, and torso (LFA infestations are often discovered when ants fall on people from above). Check out the HAL Field Guide on how to identify Little fire ants here.  

 

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Impacts

Delivers a painful sting when disturbed. Welts can last for weeks. Infests agricultural fields and farms, where they damage crops and sting workers. Promotes plant pests such as aphids, white flies and scale insects, which secrete plant sap that the ants eat. In turn, the ants protect these insects from natural predators and parasites. Can also infest houses, beds, furniture and food. They may sting, and even blind, pets such as cats and dogs. In the Galapagos, eats tortoise hatchlings and attacks the eyes of adult tortoises.

Economic Impacts

Little fire ant infestations can cause significant economic  damage, specifically to the agriculture, park, and school sectors. Research by Donna J Lee et. al. goes further into depth about the economic impacts of LFA in “Taking the Sting Out of Little Fire Ant in Hawai’i“. 

Distribution:

What you can do

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If you see this species on any island, call 643-PEST and/or visit 643pest.org. Survey for ants on your property and test all materials you bring home including, but not limited to, mulch, plants, agricultural products, and construction materials. A guide for surveying for LFA can be found here, or watch a how-to video for how to survey here. HLA also offers a free kit for testing your property for Little fire ants, request your free test kit here!

 

Look-alike Species

Tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata): The tropical fire ant is common throughout Hawaii. A microscope is required to tell the difference between the tropical and other fire ants. 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. This ant is often in dry coastal areas and nests in the soil, creating low to the ground, spread out mounds.

 

For more information, see