Farmers and landowners are contending with a new pest — the invasive hybrid fire ant that’s marching into fields and pastures in Southwest Virginia.
Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Amy Byington in Lee County has received calls from over 20 farmers and landowners reporting hybrid fire ant mounds on their properties. Due to their aggressive nature, the ants pose a threat to people, wildlife and livestock — particularly newborn animals. When their mounds are disturbed, the ants release pheromones that alert the colony to swarm and attack.
“You think you’re dealing with one (ant) and being careful, but then they’ll be up your pants in no time,” Byington said.
In addition to delivering painful stings, fire ants can chew irrigation tubes and electrical wiring, and sometimes feed on germinating seeds and developing flowers or fruit. Their mounds range from almost flat to 24 inches tall, and can damage agricultural equipment.
While southeastern Virginia has long dealt with red imported fire ants, their preference for warmer climates limited their spread. However, the hybridized species — a result of interbreeding between red and black imported fire ants — are more cold-tolerant, adaptable and aggressive, and can fly up to 2 miles to establish new colonies.
Already found in Georgia, Alabama, central Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, they were first detected in Lee County in fall 2021. And their range is expanding farther than experts anticipated.
“They’re coming to the other counties,” Byington cautioned, noting there have been reports of isolated cases in other parts of Southwest Virginia.
Lee County cattlewoman Arabella Cline first encountered a hybrid fire ant mound three years ago when she hit one with her all-terrain vehicle. Since then, she’s treated multiple mounds in her pastures.
While Cline’s cattle have remained unharmed, “I think my dog got into some once, because her muzzle was swollen with stings all over.”
She now carries insecticide bait on her ATV, treating mounds on sight. Hybrid fire ants are less territorial than their parent species, and multiple colonies can coexist in the same area.
“If you have one, you need to look around, because you’ll probably find more.”
Cline, a Lee County Farm Bureau member, said “There’s no benefit to having these things around.”
Hybrid fire ants spread easily on hay bales, household items, firewood, construction materials, potted plants, plant debris and trailers. For more information on hybrid fire ants, visit bit.ly/3WMm70a. To report hybrid fire ant sightings, or imported fire ants outside of the current quarantine zone, contact your local Extension office.
