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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: mewzilla
From last month...

An infestation of 'aggressive' red fire ants hits Santa Barbara County

...The county "has it only in one area," said Taravati, who's advising county officials on the complete removal of the red imported fire ant. "We hope that we can eradicate it and prevent it from getting spread to other parts of the county," he said...

They're being very cagey about the location. Bet this ain't good for property values in that neck of the woods...

61 posted on 07/25/2024 5:19:31 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: Hot Tabasco

If I owned expensive property in that neck of the woods, after reading the press release I’d be alarmed, too...


62 posted on 07/25/2024 5:20:55 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: Hot Tabasco

https://www.countyofsb.org/3967/2022-Agricultural-Crop-Production-Report

2022 was the most recent I could quickly find.

Another reason for folks in SBC to be having a cow about a RIFA infestation.


63 posted on 07/25/2024 5:23:15 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: crusty old prospector

For the record, I spoke yesterday with a man who observed an armadillo in Maryville Tennessee.

I can hardly believe that we suffer from armadillo creep this far north


64 posted on 07/25/2024 5:26:00 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: Hot Tabasco

One more, and this one’s an eye popper...

https://cisr.ucr.edu/invasive-species/red-imported-fire-ant

“...In Texas, over $1.1 billion is spent annually on pesticides for fire ant control, and $872 million of that is for control of ants infesting lawns in urban areas...”

CA also comes on for discussion.

And now I’m really wondering if SBC is coming clean about where the infestation came from.


65 posted on 07/25/2024 5:26:37 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: bert
When I lived in Texas I saw a lot of armadillos crushed in the road or on the side of the road. Never saw one alive.
66 posted on 07/25/2024 5:27:13 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: bert

It amazes me that they made it across the Mississippi River. Must have gotten on a log raft with Tom Sawyer.


67 posted on 07/25/2024 6:05:31 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: SisterK

That is my poison of choice but you are right - it stanks.


68 posted on 07/25/2024 6:07:12 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: eastexsteve

Amdro does eventually kill them but I like to see them curl up in little balls and so their death dance.


69 posted on 07/25/2024 6:10:38 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: crusty old prospector
I thought so too until my mother got stung while gardening. One of my brothers and I then went jihad on fire ants and managed to eliminate seven or eight mounds in her yard on a Saturday morning. The easier route is to hit the fire ants with diatomaceous earth every few days until they are gone, which can take several weeks to two months. Over the long run, a species of imported parasitic phorid flies has helped to control invasive foreign fire ants in the state.
70 posted on 07/25/2024 6:10:54 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: mewzilla

BTTT


71 posted on 07/25/2024 7:04:43 AM PDT by mewzilla (Never give up; never surrender!)
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To: crusty old prospector

Interesting idea... I’ll have to ask my southern black buddy who told me the other one. Guaranteed I’ll get an answer I didn’t expect.

But they would probably create a hedge fund and take your pension.


72 posted on 07/25/2024 9:05:36 AM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
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To: Nervous Tick

I just said that about only kidding so I don’t get cancelled or something.

But like I said, never paint em white. They’ll start a hedge fund and take your pension. Little pricks.


73 posted on 07/25/2024 9:08:20 AM PDT by DesertRhino (2016 Star Wars, 2020 The Empire Strikes Back, 2024... RETURN OF THE JEDI. )
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