Officials battle 'highly aggressive' red imported fire ant infestation in Southern California

ABC ^ | July 24, 2024 | Leah Sarnoff

[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.

[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...

[mewzilla]

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

[mewzilla]

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.

[bert]

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

[mewzilla]

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.

[central_va]

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.

[crusty old prospector]

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

[crusty old prospector]

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

[crusty old prospector]

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

[Rockingham]

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.

[mewzilla]

BTTT

[DesertRhino]

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.

[DesertRhino]

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.