HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.091 2006-2008 star. or Flawaii New Pest Advisory
DEPARTMEN
~ ~ T OF AGRICULTURE No. 98-02 Updated July 2005
5 ~ i ~ t
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~ ~ ° ~ a~ Little Fire Ant
r'-A ~"~i hP ~
~~~y~"~~'~~~ ~ Wasmannia auropunctata
1 1 1x~ y 'w~»~f'' }
E ~ ; ~ ~ ~~r:, (Roger)
Fr
~ r ~ ~ : =i; ~ (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
ail. ~ ` ~t~ ,r
~~a
N' ` ~ a` ~ ~ ~ Patrick Conant, Ronald A. Heu
~ ~ E a
'f' Larry Nakahara, Bernarr Kumashiro and
3
sti , , ~s;° ~ Neil Reimer
Figure 1. Little fire ant worker
Introduction. Specimens of a tiny ant (Figure 1) Creighton (1950) mentions that the severity of the
were first collected by a resident of Hawaiian sting of LFA is out of proportion to its small size.
Paradise Park, located in the Puna District of the Spencer (1941) adds that, for some people, "the
Big Island, in March 1999 and submitted to the sting lasts for three days, aching painfully at first and
Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA). They later itching intensely by spells."
were identified as the little fire ant (LFA), i
Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), by HDOA
Plant Quarantine Insect Specialist Dr. N. Reimer.
According to Wheeler (1929), W. auropunctata
is Neotropical in origin and is known throughout
central and northern South America, the West ~
Indies, and the warmer portions of Mexico. o
Nickerson (1983) reported that it is common in ~ g 'S
south Florida, and Hayashi (1999) mentioned its ~ ~ - ~ ~ °
presence in West Africa, Galapagos Islands,
New Caledonia, and the Solomon Islands. Figure 2. Little fire ant infestation on ground
Although Nickerson stated that LFA occurs in
California, inquiries to the California Department Distribution. In April 1999, three separate
of Food and Agriculture revealed that there is no infestations of the little fire ant were found at
record of it being established in the state. Hawaiian Paradise Park and another infestation was
However, there have been numerous uncovered in a nursery at Kapoho in the Puna
interceptions of LFA in California (E. Fisher District of the Big Island. In late August 1999, the ant
1999, pers. comm.) was found in 20 acres of a much larger fruit orchard
in Papaikou, about 4 miles north of Hilo. Apparently,
Description. Little fire ants are tiny, measuring 1/16 infested palm trees were planted as windbreaks
inch long. They are pale orange and around the fruit orchard in 1995, so LFA was
characteristically move very slowly. They produce Probably established in some commercial nursery
painful stings and large red welts. Ants on the Plants at least four years prior to its being first
ground rarely sting, but will readily sting when they discovered (Conant and Hirayama 2000). As of July
get under clothing as they drop off shrubbery. 2005, LFA is widely distributed in East Hawaii, but
has not yet been observed in West Hawaii. A survey
of West Hawaii funded by Natural Resources Acknowledgements. We gratefully acknowledge C.
Conservation Service will be undertaken in the Hirayama and K. Onuma for conducting field surveys
future. In East Hawaii, separate infestations range for this ant. Surveys were supported and funded in
from Laupahoehoe in Hamakua District, South to part by the USDA-APHIS Cooperative Agricultural
Kalapana in Puna District. The highest elevation Pest Survey (CAPS) Program.
infestation is in Mountain View (1500' elevation).
Infestations are also known in Waiakea Uka and References
Kaumana in South Hilo. Over 50 infestation sites are
known in East Hawaii. Of these, over a dozen Conant, P. and C. Hirayama. 2000. Wasmannia
nurseries and landscaper baseyards are infested and auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
are potential sources of infested potted plants. established on the island of Hawaii. Bish.
HDOA is working with the owners to suppress the Mus. Occas. Pap. 64:21-22.
ants. All other known infestations are in Puna or
South Hilo districts. Surveys to determine the extent Creighton, W.S. 1950. The ants of North America.
of the infestations in Puna and other areas on the Big Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 104:1-585.
Island are continuing. In 1999, an infestation of LFA
was found at Kalihiwai on Kauai which continues to Fernald, H.T. 1947. The little fire ant as a house
be suppressed through the use of Amdro fire ant pest. J. Econ. Ent. 40:428.
bait.
Hayashi, A. 1999. Attack of the fire ants. In
Habitat. The ants are easily found outdoors crawling Scientific American, February 1999.
on the ground (Figure 2), in and under potted plants,
and on ornamental foliage and flowers. Worker ants Nickerson, J.C. 1983. The little fire ant,
feed on dead insects, other arthropods, small Ochetomyrmex auropunctata (Roger). Fla.
animals, and are predaceous on many insects (Smith Dept. Agric. 8 Consumer Serv., Division of
1965). According to Spencer (1941), the ant feeds Plant Industry. Entomology Circular No. 248.
preferably on honeydew from sucking insects.
Ulloa-Chacon and Cherix (1990) mention that Smith, M.R. 1947. A generic and subgeneric
interspecific competition by this ant gradually synopsis of the United States ants, based on
eliminates other ant species and terrestrial the workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
invertebrates in newly colonized areas. So far, there American Midland Naturalist, 37(3):521-647.
have been at least 5 reports of people being stung
inside their homes on the Big Island. According to Smith, M.R. 1965. House-infesting ants of the
Smith (1965), W. auropunctata can be a household eastern United States. USDA-ARS Tech.
pes'Bwhich infests clothing, beds, furniture, or food. Bull. No. 1326. 105p.
F€r's?ald (1947) reports that W. auropunctata do not
form definite nests, but clusters of them may Spencer, H. 1941. The small fire ant Wasmannia in
sometimes be found in cracks and crevir es or under citrus groves: A preliminary report. Fla. Ent.
leaf litter, stones, or other material on the ground. 24:6-14.
According to Nickerson (1983), these "nests", which
contain several queens, numerous workers, pupae, Ulloa-Chacon, P. and D. Cherix. 1990. The Little
larvae and eggs, are connected with each other by Fire Ant Wasmannia auropunctata (R.)
movement of the workers. Spencer (1941) mentions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). pp. 281-289. In
that new nests are apparently formed by budding as Applied Myrmecology, A World Perspective.
nuptial flights have never been observed. Westview Press.
Control. Amdro fire ant bait is being applied by the Wheeler, W.M. 1929. Two neotropical ants
infested nurseries who have voluntarily refrained established in the United States. Psyche
from moving plant material off of their properties 36:89-90.
unless first treated with insecticides. For growers of
tropical fruit and nut orchard crops Amdro can be
applied in bait stations; however a copy of the
Special Local Need label is required. This label is
available from the HDOA Hilo office.
PLANT PEST CONTROL BRANCH, D(vislon of Plant Industry, Hawaii Department of AgriwlWre First issued Odober 1999
1428 SouM King Street, Honolulu, Hawail, 96814. Phone Oahu (808) 973-9530, Hilo (808) 974-4140 last updated July 22, 2005
web address: httD:/lwww.hawaiiaq.oralhdoa/noalnoa99-02-Ifireant.pdf
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