Two Infestations of Red Fire Ants Found

Two infestations of the imported red fire ant--more than 1 million strong combined--have been found in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County agricultural officials said Thursday.

The ants, which can swarm their victims and inflict painful bites and stings, were located last month at a Mission Hills cemetery and a Chatsworth business.

The discovery comes a little more than a year after a single ant was found in a mound near a Van Nuys home. County agricultural inspectors said they expected to find more of the pests and are ready to wipe them out.

“Except for a single ant found earlier, these are the first infestations found in the Valley,” said county Agricultural Commissioner Cato Fiksdal. “We are confident that we will be able to eliminate this and the other infestations eventually.”

The first infestation in the Valley was detected on May 11 by a woman who was stung while visiting a grave site at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery. Although inspectors believe the woman was stung by a native fire ant that produces a less severe sting or bite, an entomologist confirmed that the imported species had occupied about two dozen mounds at the cemetery.

Stephen Van Buren, risk manager for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese that operates the cemetery, said it is cooperating with state and county agencies to eradicate the ants. On June 8 the facility will be closed while bait is spread throughout the cemetery.

Several well-developed ant colonies were found May 22 at a business in the 20700 block of Prairie Street in Chatsworth.