More Fire Ant Infestations Discovered

State agriculture crews on Monday reported finding two more infestations of fire ants--in Anaheim and Pico Rivera--and officials asked for the public’s help in finding other locations.

The latest Orange County discovery of the insects was on private property near Orangethorpe and Placentia avenues in northern Anaheim, said Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the state Department of Food and Agriculture. In Los Angeles County, fire ants were found at a nursery on Rooks Road in Pico Rivera.

The infestations were discovered by state entomologists who have been surveying the region to determine the extent of fire ant infestation.

On Monday, the state announced a hotline that Southern California residents may call during business hours to report suspected fire ant colonies. The number is (800) 491-1899.

“We’re at a point in seeking the public’s help,” Hidalgo said. “We have a goal of finding all the mounds we can. And from there, we will decide to eradicate if feasible.”

Orange County officials discovered the ants two months ago at two nurseries in Trabuco Canyon. Since then, the pests have been found across a stretch from Mission Viejo to Los Alamitos and inland to El Monte and distant Indio.

The two Orange County nurseries and an Indio turf farm infested with the ants are under state quarantine. Orchard owners are battling isolated outbreaks in Kern, Fresno and Stanislaus counties. State officials are printing fliers they plan to distribute door to door to warn residents of the danger that the ants’ venom poses to young children, pets and adults who may be allergic to it.

“We have traced every distribution, every delivery of any products that have moved off from those nurseries,” Hidalgo said of the state’s investigation.

Despite those efforts, stopping the outbreak would be very costly because the ants may be too numerous to eradicate.

“You have to remember: All it takes is a mated queen to start a new colony,” Hidalgo said. “So far, this tracing has taken us to Indio and South El Monte, where we’ve had findings of red fire ant mounds, and now Pico Rivera.”

Entomologists already had found mounds in Anaheim, but the second discovery helped prompt state officials to establish the toll-free number.

“As we see this larger area expanding with the Anaheim find, obviously the task becomes much more difficult,” Hidalgo said. “That’s why if we have the support of the community to find the extent of this problem, then we can eliminate it.”

The tiny red insects thrive in moist areas with good drainage, such as greenbelts, under trees, edges of lawns and bedded plants. They also are drawn to areas that are cleared and recently landscaped, such as new housing developments.

Nick Nisson, an Orange County entomologist who has inspected fire ant mounds, described them as domed, with a base of at least 15 inches across and 6 to 8 inches tall.

“These are similar to a golfer mound, but very spongy-looking and dome-shaped and with multiple holes for entry,” Nisson said.