Within seconds Ben van DrimmelenB次元官网网址檚 hand is swarming with European fire ants.
All it took was one solid thump over where he knew there was a nest B次元官网网址� an easy process since he pounded his entire front yard earlier and found five nests in a one-metre section.
B次元官网网址淭he odd behaviour is the strong bite and the swarming action,B次元官网网址� the Oak Bay man said, ants crawling across his calloused hand. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e nasty, biting, little invasives.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 been trying to get rid of them since discovering the pests living alongside the harmless black ants in his yard in the mid-1990s.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know they were non-native,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 knew they were annoying.B次元官网网址�
This summer, van Drimmelen learned exactly how invasive the pests are after reading media coverage of a European fire ant problem on the Lower Mainland that cited leading B.C. expert Robert Higgins.
Higgins hopes to spread that knowledge given new funding from the province and the growing concern over the tiny, feisty pests.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the many challenges with this new invasive is that few people work with ants and are able to identify them. Right now I am the only person in the province, but a workshop is in the planning stages to train more people,B次元官网网址� the entomologist explained. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to provide some more information to municipalities so they can stickhandle this.B次元官网网址�
A little while later, van Drimmelen simply places his hand on the lawn, with similar swarming affect B次元官网网址� no thump necessary. Although only four millimetres long, the ants are known to swarm and sting without provocation, putting the kibosh on bocce, relaxing on the grass and backyard parties, said van DrimmelenB次元官网网址檚 neighbour Rhea Cavelti.
B次元官网网址淥nce the kids are bitten, After Bite doesnB次元官网网址檛 work. B次元官网网址� The (welts) get massive,B次元官网网址� Cavelti said.
Higgins explained that the European fire ants became a noted pest about 15 years ago.
B次元官网网址�(The species is) forming much denser colonies in areas that itB次元官网网址檚 moving into. And itB次元官网网址檚 becoming much more aggressive,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his ant doesnB次元官网网址檛 behave this way in Europe. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 form colonies anywhere near as densely as in North America. B次元官网网址� They seem to understand they are dominating the area and can afford to be aggressive.B次元官网网址�
Along with Greater Victoria, the thin, red ants have been found around Chilliwack, North Vancouver and Burnaby.
B次元官网网址淚t is to the best of our knowledge localized right now to perhaps half a dozen residences (in Greater Victoria),B次元官网网址� Higgins said. B次元官网网址淭he province has approved funding to map their distribution in more detail. B次元官网网址� By the end of summer we hope to have a better idea of where it is, at least where itB次元官网网址檚 established.B次元官网网址�
A retired biologist, van Drimmelen looks forward to HigginsB次元官网网址� mapping the species and discovering a safe way to combat them. Traditional ant-killing methods have yet to work.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping thereB次元官网网址檚 a way to control these ants without killing the other nice ants,B次元官网网址� van Dimmelen said. So far Higgins finds boric acid at a very specific concentration does the trick and is guiding residents accordingly.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be setting up a process, so we can provide some information to municipalities if they become the first contact for these issues,B次元官网网址� Higgins said.
They hope to have students mapping and trapping in the neighbourhood this week.
Learn more about the species, or contact Higgins through Thompson Rivers University at www.tru.ca/faculty/rhiggins.
Rising temper with temperature
The European fire ant is not a morning creature. In the cold and damp itB次元官网网址檚 sluggish but as the temperature heats up, say to 20 degrees, it begins to move faster.
B次元官网网址淚t only tends to sting when you get it under clothing and press against it,B次元官网网址� said entomologist Rob Higgins. When the weather hits 25 degrees, this invasive fire ant will B次元官网网址渟ting without the necessity of clothing,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址淭hey show the worst behaviour on warm humid muggy evenings.B次元官网网址�
Stop the spread
A queen is required to establish new colonies, so simply walking isnB次元官网网址檛 a danger to spreading the species. Those who have a dreaded ant colony shouldnB次元官网网址檛 transport soil.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important not to remove soil from the area, because we donB次元官网网址檛 want to spread ants from the area,B次元官网网址� Higgins said. If youB次元官网网址檙e digging up plants and sending them to a friend or a neighbour, immerse the roots in water for an hour to kill any potential of transporting a queen. B次元官网网址淲e definitely want to contain this. B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a fight to knock it back.B次元官网网址�
