little fire ant

A “bad actor” accused of giving away plants infested with little fire ants has had its name cleared by the state Department of Agriculture — but that's done little to satisfy concerns that the department isn’t doing enough to stop invasive species. Meanwhile, the business is trying to recover from the hit to its reputation. HPR's Mark Ladao has more.

This week, state senators held a briefing to get an update on the nurseries that have been knowingly selling plant material infested with little fire ants, one of the most problematic invasive species in Hawaiʻi.

A new state Department of Agriculture rule aims to stop the spread of little fire ants on Oʻahu. The department this week announced it will impose quarantines on areas infested with the invasive ant species.

Kapua Kawelo works in resource management at Schofield Barracks. Her worries about little fire ants extend beyond her day job. She's also active in her community of Kahaluʻu, which has turned its focus to the threat of the little fire ant. Many new ant sites have been reported in Windward Oʻahu in the past year.

Department of Agriculture Chair Sharon Hurd told state lawmakers at an informational briefing on Monday that general funds would help free up money for other biosecurity efforts and stabilize the funding for those employees.

Today we're replaying our recent series on the status of the little fire ant across our state, as lawmakers push for a rapid response to the infestation of the invasive pest spreading throughout our islands.

The state Department of Agriculture’s focus on fighting recent pest outbreaks in Hawaiʻi includes speedy rule making and more funding for the department. Two of the most concerning pest species in Hawaiʻi are the coconut rhinoceros beetle and the little fire ant.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee says a survey of 173 acres in Nāhiku has not found any little fire ants. For the last several years, crews there have been testing an aerial treatment that sterilizes the ant queens and knocks out the colonies. Two MISC scientists spoke to The Conversation's Catherine Cruz about the good news.

The Conversation checked in with the Molokaʻi-Maui Invasive Species Committee about the need to stay vigilant. The committee coordinator Lori Buchanan spoke with us about its success in keeping the critters from getting a foothold on the Friendly Isle.

First discovered in 1999 in Puna, the little fire ant was also found on Kauaʻi around the same time. The Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee said it is currently tracking or treating six populations of the little fire ant. The Conversation's Catherine Cruz shares how the community helps prevent the tiny, painful pest.