Fire Ants Discovered on Maui

Little fire ants have been found on a farm in Waihee on Maui, according to officials from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Officials believe that the colony of ants is confined to a half-acre area on the farm and that the ants can be eradicated. The ants were discovered after farm workers reported being stung by ants.

This species of ant has been on the Big Island since at least 1999, but agriculture officials said this is the first discovery of the creatures on Maui and that they may have been there for a year.

Little fire ants are 1/16-inch long, pale orange and they move slowly. A sting by an ant can produce large, painful red welts that last about three days, officials said.

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Source: Honolulu Advertiser