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Red Fire Ant Posing a Risk to North America

By: Dovid Davis

When the summer weather is hot, the omnivorous Red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is found in mid-Atlantic states such as Maryland Since the first detection of the insect in Maryland in 1986, it has been intercepted by aggressive surveillance and eradication efforts of the Maryland Department of Agriculture, preventing its establishment in the state. As with many invasive species, the Maryland Department of Agriculture relies on reports from residents to detect new infestations.
This South American native ant probably first came to North America as an unwanted passenger on cargo ships coming into the port of Mobile, Alabama, in the late 1930’s. Since its appearance in the early 1930s, the ant has migrated in a northerly direction.At this time, 320 million acres of the southern United States are generally infested, requiring the Federal quarantine in 13 states and Puerto Rico.
This ant is small, but makes up for its diminutive stature with fighting habits when defending its nest and a painful sting. Fire ants are meat eating, attacking and on occasion killing newborn domestic animals as well as pets and wildlife. It also feeds on buds and fruits of almost any plant.
The ant has had a devastating impact on the life cycle of ground nesting animals in all of the 13 Southern StatesIn agriculture, fire ants have damaged numerous cultivated plants including corn, sorghum and soybeans.
The fire ant infestation has affected urban life as well, having endangered both children who develop allergic responses to the ant venom, as well as the elderly. A single fire ant will sting multiple times, resulting in a painful burning sensation (thus the name ‘fire’ ant). This is then followed by the formation of white blisters or pustules. These blisters can become infected if not cared for properly

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