In Southern California, agricultural officials are confronting a significant issue: an active infestation of red imported fire ants.
According to the source, these ants, described as “highly aggressive,” are posing a notable threat to the region’s agricultural economy.
The infestation was discovered at a private property in Montecito, Santa Barbara County, a well-known area that is home to celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. The owners of the property have not been disclosed.
According to a recent press release from the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, these ants can be particularly dangerous.
The venom from their stings can cause painful pustules and can be fatal to sensitive individuals, especially those allergic to the venom.
The red imported fire ants, scientifically known as Solenopsis invicta, pose an “immediate threat” because their presence necessitates a quarantine of nursery products, which impacts the agricultural sector.
This ant species is originally from South America but has established populations in parts of Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties. The first recorded presence of these ants in California dates back to 1984.
Siavash Taravati, an entomologist with the University of California’s Cooperative Extension, emphasized that these ants are distinct from native fire ants and Argentine ants, primarily due to their aggressive behavior.
This aggression is not just a problem for humans; it also threatens local wildlife and native ant species, as well as potentially clogging irrigation systems and damaging electrical wiring.
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The infestation in Montecito is currently the only known active one in Santa Barbara County. It is believed that the ants originated from a nursery stock shipped from Riverside County in September 2023.
The Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, in collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the University of California Cooperative Extension, and the Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, is actively surveying the affected property and implementing treatments managed by licensed pest control experts.