Red Imported Fire Ant Fresno County Kerman Red imported fire ant was found in a commercial almond grove on July 15, 1998. Pallets of commercial bees were brought into this orchard for pollination during 1997 by the same beekeeper associated with the Kern County RIFA infestation. In response to this recent RIFA find, Fresno County and CDFA personnel are conducting a delimiting survey in this 1200 acre almond grove. CDFA and county staff continue to survey almond groves for
RIFA that this beekeeper had placed hives in. The Kerman location
is one of three new locations provided by USDA investigators.
One of these new locations remains to be identified and surveyed.
There are a total of seven locations, including the Kerman and
Lost Hills locations, associated with the same beekeeper. Kern County RIFA Update Surveys continue in the Kern County Lost Hills Eradication Area. A total of 65 colonies have been found. (A colony is defined as an exit or entrance hole where ants have been collected and identified as RIFA.) The individual colonies have been treated with Lorsban (a mound drench application) and two separate colony areas comprising 2.25 acres have been treated twice with Award (a broadcast bait application). The last bait application was made on June 16, 1998. RIFA ant activity has not been detected during recent weekly surveys. A major survey of the infested area is scheduled for mid-September and will include the evaluation of the last broadcast bait application of Award. Prepared by: John Pozzi |
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