Imported Fire Ant Update

DR. RIC BESSIN, JONATHAN LARSON AND JOE COLLINS

 PRINCETON, KENTUCKY

 Imported fire ants (IFA) have been a recurring problem in several Western Kentucky counties for almost 25 years. The pattern has been that suspect IFA mounds (Figure 1) are reported, confirmed by a specialist, treated, and then eliminated. This has kept IFA from becomingestablished in the western portion of the state. Most of these reported mounds have been in counties near the Land Between the Lakes Region.

 In the winter of 2022, an IFA mound was reported, confirmed, and eliminated in McCreary County. Soon after that, dozens of new mounds from various southern parts of the county were reported and confirmed, followed by numerous reports in southern Whitley County. IFA mounds have also been found in several locations in Knox County and single locations in Bell and Laurel Counties. The mounds identified in Knox, Bell, and Laurel counties have been treated, but infestations in portions of McCreary and Whitley Counties are too extensive to eliminate.

 While IFA may have some value as a predator of insect and tick pests, they are a serious public health threat. For many people, an IFA sting is painful and causes a raised pustule, but for some it can cause a serious anaphylactic reaction that can require prompt medical attention. UK Entomology’s webpage has a factsheet on IFA (ENTFACT-469) that describes its identification, significance, biology, and management.

 While it may not be possible to eliminate IFA once it becomes established in an area, it is important to slow the spread of this invasive insect into new areas of Kentucky. Persons that find a suspect mound should contact their county Extension agent or take a picture and e-mail it toReportAPest@uky.edu.

 For more information about the current status of IFA in KY, visit thiswebpage. ∆

 DR. Ric Bessin and Jonathan Larson, Entomology Extension Specialists, and Joe Collins, State Nursery Inspector.