For Immediate Release
Wednesday, May 31, 2000 |
Contact: Cato
R. Fiksdal, (626) 575-5451,or Robert G. Donley
(626) 575-5466
Los Angeles County
Agricultural Commissioner/ Deputy Director
Director, Weights & Measures
|
RED IMPORTED FIRE
ANT FOUND IN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
Today, Los Angeles County Agricultural
Commissioner Cato Fiksdal reported that two infestations
of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) have been discovered
in the San Fernando Valley.
"Except for a single ant found earlier,
these are the first infestations found in the San
Fernando Valley." stated Mr. Fiksdal. "We were fairly
certain that we would find new infestations in Los
Angeles County before this pest is finally eradicated.
We are confident that, with CDFA and City support,
we will be able to eliminate this and the other infestations
eventually."
The first infestation was detected
on May 11 by inspectors from the California Department
of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in a cemetery in the
11100 block of Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills. Inspectors
responded to a complaint from a person who was stung
by ants while visiting the cemetery. Even though the
ants that stung the caller are suspected to be a local
species, RIFA was discovered on the property and confirmed
by the CDFA entomologist.
A second infestation of RIFA was discovered
in landscaping in the 20700 block of Prairie Street
on May 22. Los Angeles County Agricultural Inspectors
responding to a call from a private pest control company
reporting unusual ant activity, found several well
developed ant colonies. This infestation was also
confirmed by entomologists to be RIFA.
Department staff, with help from CDFA
personnel, have begun surveying surrounding areas
to determine the extent of the infestation. As with
other finds, with the cooperation of the property
owners, all infested properties will be put under
an eradication program that consists of baiting the
colonies with a material that sterilizes the queens
and an ant growth regulator to eliminate the colony.
To date, there are 185 sites in Los
Angeles County that are infested with RIFA including
infestations in the cities of Arcadia, Azusa, Walnut,
La Puente, Whittier, La Mirada, Cerritos, Lakewood,
and Los Angeles.
RIFA was first discovered in Los Angeles
County on November 23, 1998 in a wholesale plant nursery
in South El Monte. Five other nurseries were also
found to be infested with RIFA. "Each nursery has
been treated, resurveyed, and all signs of ant activity
has been eliminated," declared Mr. Fiksdal.
RIFA is not native to California or
the United States. It was accidentally introduced
into Mobile Alabama from South America more than 70
years ago. Today, RIFA occurs throughout 11 U.S. southern
states and currently it is under eradication in Los
Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San
Diego Counties, in Southern California
RIFA can be a dangerous insect as
the ants are very aggressive. They attack and multiply
sting anything that disturbs them including humans
and domestic animals. The ants also infest electrical
equipment and chew on the insulation and have caused
short circuits in air conditioners and traffic signals.
They are also a hazard to native and endangered species
of plants, birds, reptiles and other small animals.
The Red Imported Fire Ant has a red
colored head and thorax and a black abdomen. The ant
colony builds dirt mounds in turf and landscape areas
and may contain over 500,000 workers, several winged
ants, and queens. The queens can live seven years
or more while the workers live about five weeks.
"We are currently eradicating RIFA
at all known locations, but we need help from the
public and industry in reporting any new suspected
RIFA colonies," said Fiksdal. County officials will
be mailing out 50,000 postcards to homeowners with
newly landscaped properties to alert them to report
any unusual ant activity.
Residents are urged to call the Red
Imported Fire Ant Hotline number 1-800-491-1899
to report unusual ants or stinging incidents. Additional
information can be obtained by visiting the County
Agricultural Commissioner’s website at www.acwm.co.la.ca.us.
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