Fire Ant Quarantine In Arkansas Expands To Four More Counties

LITTLE ROCK, ARK.

   The federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine has been extended to four additional counties: Logan, Prairie, Sebastian and White.

   “With these additions, there are 43 Arkansas counties included in the current federal quarantine area,” said Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Loftin has spent years studying methods for managing these pests and teaching Arkansans how to protect their families, farms and themselves from this invasive species.

   Arkansas wasn’t the only state to see an expansion of the quarantine, Loftin said.

   “Three counties were added in North Carolina, one in Oklahoma and five in Virginia," he said.

   The additions are in response to imported fire ant surveys conducted by state regulators in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA announced the expansion in June.

   “Agriculture is at risk from red imported fire ants for several reasons. These ants will feed on the buds and fruits of numerous crop plants, especially corn, soybeans and okra.” said Paul Shell, plant inspection and quarantine manager for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. “Large nests located in fields interfere with and damage equipment during cultivation and harvesting.

   “Ant attacks inhibit field-worker activities as a single fire ant can sting its target repeatedly,” he said. “Young and newborn animals are especially susceptible to the venom of these stings.”

   The quarantine is needed to prevent the artificial movement of these invasive ants to non-infested areas. Movement of regulated items from quarantined to non-quarantined areas is restricted unless specific actions are taken to ensure the regulated items are fire ant free. 

   Regulated items can move freely within the quarantine area. The list of regulated items include:

   • Nursery stock with soil or potting media • Grass sod • Baled hay stored in contact with the soil • Baled straw stored in contact with the soil • Soil • Used soil-moving equipment.

   Additional information, including interactive maps are available through USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection service at: https://www .a phis.us da.gov/aphis/ourfocu s/pla ntheatlh/plantdis eases/imported- fire-ants.

   Find information specific to Arkansas on the fire ant and other quarantines here: https://www.agriculture.arkansas.gov/plant-industries/regulatory-section/quarantines ∆

 Counties in red are newly added to the federal fire ant quarantine in Arkansas.

 Image courtesy Arkansas Agriculture Department