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The Maui News
Two new infestations of little fire ants have been found on Maui, according to the Maui Invasive Species Committee.
State Department of Agriculture inspectors found one in a plant nursery in South Maui during the week of Dec. 4, and the other was reported by a Hana resident the same week, the committee announced Monday.
Agriculture department inspectors were following up on the South Maui discovery by checking on recently discovered shipments of little fire ants in plant material from the Big Island.
Aside from inspections at ports and harbors, the state officials regularly visit Maui nurseries to stop little fire ant infestations, the committee reported.
The inspectors advised MISC officials of the South Maui infestation, and both surveyed the nursery and found the invasive ants were on about an acre.
"Infested material was quarantined and treated and the nursery is open for business," MISC officials said. "The nursery voluntarily agreed to not sell material from the infested area and closed its doors until treatment was done."
MISC reported that the nursery owners were cooperative and helped track the potential movement of little fire ants from their location.
To date, no other infestations have been discovered spreading from the nursery, MISC reported.
"This underscores the importance of quarantining and testing any plant material you are bringing to your home or property, particularly if it's coming from Hawaii island," said MISC manager Adam Radford.
The Hana infestation is not suspected to be associated with the one in South Maui, officials said.
The Hana resident reported having been stung for several months while working outside, but the resident had assumed it was a common skin irritation from stinging vines.
A Hana-based MISC crew members surveyed the property immediately, and they have been working to determine the extent of the infestation and whether it has spread to other locations.
Several acres have been surveyed in the Kaeleku area of Hana, mauka of Hana Highway.
Crews were surveying locations where plant material from the infested property had been moved, MISC reported. So far, no other little fire ant populations have been found.
The Kaeleku fire population is suspected to be linked to the more than 20-acre infestation of little fire ants in Nahiku.
A community meeting to discuss the ant infestation has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Helene Hall in Hana.
For more information, visit www.stoptheant.org.