Louis the red imported fire ant an aggressive stinging and biting nuisance that can also cause economic hardship has made its way into missouri. Ants columbia missouri has its first confirmed report of red imported fire ants and residents of missouri s bootheel should be on the lookout for fire ant mounds on their property said richard houseman university of missouri entomology professor and state extension entomologist.
College Of Agriculture Food And Natural Resources Beware Fire Ants
In the united states imported fire ants currently inhabit all or parts of alabama arkansas california florida georgia louisiana missouri mississippi new mexico north carolina oklahoma puerto rico south carolina tennessee texas and virginia.
Are fire ants in missouri. The red imported fire ant has also been accidentally introduced to other countries. May have accidentally brought along a nasty visitor. Many ants bite or sting defensively though rarely seriously.
The imported fire ant an aggressive stinging insect native to south america has infested more than 380 million acres in at least 13 states according to the usda s animal and plant health inspection service aphis. But the recent high traffic in out of state hay dramatically increases the odds that some ants will escape notice long enough to establish themselves in parts of southern missouri where winters may be mild enough for colonies to survive year round. The red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta is a common stinging ant in human environments in the southeastern united states but it is not currently established in missouri.
A colony of the ants was discovered late last. Others provide important services in attacking injurious insects and aerating the soil. Some are considered home garden or crop pests.
Stinging ants in missouri include acrobat ants crematogaster spp and the pavement ant tetramorium caespitum. A colony of the ants was discovered late last. How can i tell them apart from other ants.
About four of missouri s ants are species of conservation concern and vulnerable to becoming extirpated from our state. Missouri farmers who bought hay from parts of the southern u s. Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus solenopsis they are however only a minority in the genus which includes over 200 species of solenopsis worldwide solenopsis are stinging ants and most of their common names reflect this for example ginger ants and tropical fire ants many species also are called red ants because of their light brown color though species of ants in many.
They are discovered sporadically in kentucky missouri and maryland. As far as anyone knows however there are no established populations of red imported fire ants in missouri. What do fire ants look like.
In the united states imported fire ants currently inhabit all or parts of alabama arkansas california florida georgia louisiana mississippi new mexico north carolina oklahoma puerto rico south carolina tennessee texas and virginia. Louis the red imported fire ant an aggressive stinging and biting nuisance that can also cause economic hardship has made its way into missouri.
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