The Little Red Fire Ant:
Who Thinks he Can
Native to south America has been placed on the invasive species list because of his effects on the environment of many countries. In the early 1930s, the red fire ant was accidental shipped to the United States. Henry Peter Loding is credited with the first report of this new invasive species.
Most invasive species are transported by mistake, the little red fire ant is no different. The little red fire ant is displacing native species. The Little red fire ant is able to displace native species because it is more aggressive and larger than the native ants. This throws the the whole food chain off kilter. Since these ants are more aggressive they are more difficult for predictors to safely catch. Little red fire ants cause damage to to the ecosystem. Yet some still think of this species as only a nuance. The effects of the little red fire ant on these ecosystems which they have been introduced is a hotly debated topic. The ants have mad it harder for local insects and birds yet their introduction has yet to drive any species totally out of the area, only make life more “difficult” for the local species to thrive.
The Little red fire ant's effects on other insects can be devastating to local species. Displacing and destroying native species is easy because of the ants larger size in comparison to its black brother. The little red fire ant is a bully which pushes native species out of its way. Other ants, local beetles and many other insects can be pushed out of their original habitat. Fragmenting the food chain, which disturbed the ecosystem.
Birds are also affected by the little red fire ants intrusion. The ants have been known to attack nests of native birds, killing the young flightless birds. The are able to do this because of the vast numbers, the mother is unable to fend off the attacking colony of ants and thus must leave the nest leaving the helpless young for the ants. This creates a number of problems for birds which have problems finding a mate or raising its young.
Domestic Quarantine, no real effective method to control ants. Catch a thief with a thief introduction of an even more exotic species, one which does not sting yet would control the population of the little red fire ant. This however, is risky because of the unknown complications. The effects on the ecosystems by releasing a new exotic species to control the population of the little red fire ant is unknown.
Possible pesticides however, use of chemicals over a large area of the United States is frowned upon. Pesticides are dangerous because it leans itself to many other unforeseen problems. Problems like pollution of the ground water, contamination of crops, and the accidental death of other local species. These are all unforeseen problems which could devastate local ecosystems.
Other methods of control such as release of another exotic species could possible control this invasive species. Scientists have theorized that species like phorid flies have been introduced, however this species only slows reproduction. Other species have also been released with limited success.
The release of a disease into the population of a colony, can help keep numbers down. A virus SINV-1 have been found in the field. This virus slows down the ants and eventually leads the the death of the entire colony. This virus has been found to be both self-sustaining and transmittable within colonies of ants.
The physical method of control must also be considered. Burning, flooding, and other hands on methods of extermination have been shown to work, with limited success. Limited success because these methods have both time consuming and costly.
Each of these methods have been tested with limited success. This is why there is no one method which can be used to control the little red fire ant. The little red fire and must be destroyed using a combination of multiple methods. A multi-pronged approach would be the best method to control the little red fire ant population.
Work Cited
Bert Holldobler & Edward O. Wilson Journey to the Ants: A Story Of Scientific Exploration
Edward O. Wilson The Diversity of Life 1992 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
Identifying the Little Fire Ant: A New Invasive Species on Kauai, Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. May 2004
Joshua Blu Buhs The Fire Ant Wars: Nature, Science, and Public Policy in twentieth-Century America
Stephen Welton Taber Fire Ants 1956 Texas A&M University Agriculture Series
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/red_imported_fire ant.htm> Red Imported Fire Ant – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 11/11/2008
<http://www.invasivespecinfo.gov> Invasive Species: Animals – Red imported Fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) 11/11/2008
<http://www.nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies/misc/art24555.html> The Nature Conservancy – Stopping the Fire Ant in the Pacific Islands
