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Officials battle 'highly aggressive' red imported fire ant infestation in Southern California
ABC ^ | July 24, 2024 | Leah Sarnoff

Posted on 07/24/2024 7:50:16 PM PDT by crusty old prospector

Agricultural officials in Southern California are battling an active infestation of red imported fire ants that are "highly aggressive in nature," and pose a risk to California's agricultural economy.

The infestation occurred at a private property in Montecito, in Santa Barbara County, according to a recent press release from the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

Located over 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Montecito is best known as a celebrity enclave with Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle among the town's residents.

Officials did not name the owners of the private property.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: california; californication; fireants; imported; montecito; pestilence
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To: KarlInOhio

ROTFL!! Where are the Pro-FireAntAgitators?


41 posted on 07/24/2024 9:28:52 PM PDT by NetAddicted (MAGA2024)
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To: crusty old prospector

Ya spread uncooked grits around the mound. The ants take the grits down into the colony, and when it rains the grits swell and destroy the tunnels.

Works VERY well.


42 posted on 07/24/2024 9:31:31 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (Conan the Sailing Librarian)
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To: Conan the Librarian

For real?

This isn’t like the fabled remedy for body lice where you go the movies and feed them salty popcorn and when they get up for a drink you change seats is it?


43 posted on 07/24/2024 10:22:02 PM PDT by chickenlips (Neuter your politicians)
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To: crusty old prospector

AMDRO works wonders on fire ants. I can literally make them extinct on my property with this stuff. Safe for kids and pets, too.


44 posted on 07/24/2024 10:53:23 PM PDT by eastexsteve
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To: Fai Mao

That was a terrible ordeal for your daughter.


45 posted on 07/24/2024 11:03:00 PM PDT by muglywump (Seven days without laughter makes one weak.)
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To: Texaspeptoman

The bites only hurt for a minute or so... Not a big enough problem for me to need to use anything. I guess some people are allergic though. I’m the same way with mosquito bites, not a problem for me while others get welts and stuff.


46 posted on 07/24/2024 11:34:03 PM PDT by Bullish (...And just like that, I was dropped from the ping-list)
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To: eastexsteve

I use Suspend SC. It kills for about 30 to 40 days.


47 posted on 07/25/2024 12:19:45 AM PDT by thegagline (Sic semper tyrannis! Trump & Vance, 2024! (Formerly) Goldwater & Thomas Sowell in 2024)
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To: crusty old prospector

Pour boiling or at least very hot water into the fire ant nests and dust the area widely with diatomaceous earth. The boiling water destroys much of the nest and drives the ants out into the open. The diatomaceous earth (sharp silica dust, in essence) sticks to the ants and penetrates their joints, killing them. Boiling water and DE both work separately but are most effective when done together.


48 posted on 07/25/2024 12:31:49 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: crusty old prospector

Fire ants soon to be a protected species in California.


49 posted on 07/25/2024 4:13:19 AM PDT by Wasatch Back
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To: crusty old prospector

Orthene
smells like cabbage farts but is wicked death to fire ants


50 posted on 07/25/2024 4:14:37 AM PDT by SisterK (it's controlled demolition)
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To: crusty old prospector

Open borders... everything gets through.


51 posted on 07/25/2024 4:30:46 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: crusty old prospector
Officials battle 'highly aggressive' red imported fire ant infestation in Southern California

Appoint Kamala our "Fire Ant Czar" and send her south of the border to investigate the "root causes!"

That ought to help!

Regards,

52 posted on 07/25/2024 4:46:14 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: crusty old prospector
Bring back Diazinon. It the onlyt thing that really works.

Banning of Diazinon

During the Clinton Era, President Clinton signed a tougher pesticide law in 1996. Diazinon was banned from use as an agricultural insecticide. At the time 80% of United States could find Diazinon in their residential products. In fact it still may be in use in certain households, as it is still used and considered legal in 14 states including California. Yet with the ban starting in 2004, having had 20 years pass, states which have accepted that ban have had hardware stores and other suppliers report that they have "ran out" of products with diazinon. These states which continue to use Diazinon is their products consider their risks low, yet its greatest affect is through inhalation and skin contact. Certain environmental groups continue to protest these states which still continue its use. [14]

53 posted on 07/25/2024 4:51:32 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Sean in DTLA

Unless someone imported some plants illegally...

Now I wonder who would do that in that neck of the woods?


54 posted on 07/25/2024 4:56:58 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: mewzilla

There’s a hyperlink to the press release at the story.

Read the press release.

The shipment arrived in fall of ‘23.

Interesting timing.

Paging The Royal Grift...


55 posted on 07/25/2024 5:00:39 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: crusty old prospector
More here...

Killer Ants Invade Montecito Agricultural Commissioner’s Office Battling Infestation of Destructive, Potentially Deadly Red Imported Fire Ants

OMG, if the Harkles are involved in this...

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

56 posted on 07/25/2024 5:02:51 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: Bullish
We’ve had the little bastards around here in SoCal for as long as I can remember.

Yea, the article said they were first noticed back in 1984. I don't know why the sudden alarm now other than maybe the writer was under pressure to write something alarming.

57 posted on 07/25/2024 5:11:27 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Rockingham

Too much work.


58 posted on 07/25/2024 5:13:18 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: Sean in DTLA

Lots of Avocado trees just to the South in Carpinteria.


59 posted on 07/25/2024 5:19:29 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: crusty old prospector

Funny that, living in the South, that was exactly the image that came to mind.


60 posted on 07/25/2024 5:19:29 AM PDT by I-ambush (From the brightest star comes the blackest hole. You had so much to offer, why didya offer your sou?)
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