“Highly Aggressive Red Imported Fire Ants Infest Montecito Property: What You Need to Know”

A new population of “highly aggressive” red imported fire ants has infested a private property in Montecito, according to Santa Barbara County officials. The ants, known for their ability to bite and sting humans, pets, and livestock, pose a significant threat to the local community.

According to a news release from the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, the venom from an ant’s sting can cause painful pustules on the skin and can be particularly dangerous, even fatal, to sensitive groups or those with an allergy to the venom. Officials were first alerted to the presence of the red imported fire ants on the Montecito property back in 2023 and have been monitoring the site ever since.

Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Stephanie Stark stated, “We believe it came from a licensed nursery stock seller from Riverside County. One of the ways the red imported fire ant gets moved is through contaminated or infested soil.” Native to South America, the ants have long been a challenge for pest control officials across Southern states such as Texas, which spends about $1.2 billion each year trying to control ant populations.

Santa Barbara County has strict protocols in place to vet produce shipped in from quarantine zones infested with red imported fire ants, but despite these measures, the ants have managed to infest the area. The county has already spent over $15,000 to eradicate the ants whenever they appear.

Siavash Taravati, an entomologist and integrated pest management advisor with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, explained that while red imported fire ants do not eat agricultural produce, they pose a threat to people, animals, and wildlife. They can also damage electrical equipment and displace native ant species in the area.

In Riverside, where Taravati is based, the red imported fire ants have established a strong presence, making removal nearly impossible. However, he believes that Santa Barbara County has a chance of stopping their spread if they act swiftly. Taravati is advising county officials on the complete removal of the ants, emphasizing the importance of thorough eradication to prevent future infestations.

To effectively eliminate a colony of red imported fire ants, a combination of chemical drenches and greasy bait is recommended. Foragers feed on the bait and bring it back to the nest to feed the larvae and queen, ultimately eliminating the entire colony. It is crucial to use slow-acting baits to ensure the toxicants reach the queen and the rest of the colony.

Mark Hoddle, director of the Center for Invasive Species Research at UC Riverside, shared his experience with red imported fire ants in Louisiana, where he was swarmed by the aggressive ants and left with painful red blisters from their bites. In rare cases, people have died from multiple bites from the venomous ants, highlighting the serious threat they pose to public health.

Efforts are underway to eradicate the red imported fire ants in Montecito and prevent their spread to other parts of Santa Barbara County. With the expertise of entomologists and pest control officials, the hope is to eliminate the invasive species and protect the community from their harmful effects.