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Stop the Little Fire Ant Report Here Request a Collection Kit

Little Fire Ants on Oʻahu

Note that these ants may be present anywhere on Oʻahu, and the status report is only for infestations that were discovered and reported.  We need your help to find them before colonies grow too large to eradicate. Oʻahu has the most residents of all the islands, which means that we have a greater chance of catching little fire ants before they become established. Collect ants from your property and send them for identification at least once a year and find them before they find you…submit your ant samples to the the Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee at 743 Ulukahiki St., Kailua, HI 96734.  OR, request a free ant collection kit by clicking the link below. 

Request a FREE Ant Collection Kit with a pre-addressed return envelope here.

Regional Map Links (Updated February 2025)     

Active Sites: Active sites are those that are undergoing surveys to determine their size and/or are being treated for eradication.

  1. Maunawili 8 -Feb 2025 – Active Phase
  2. Hauʻula 3 – Feb 2025 – Active Phase
  3. ʻĀhuimanu 5 – Feb 205 – Active Phase
  4. ʻĀina Haina 3 -Dec 2024 – Active Phase
  5. Kailua 9 – Nov 2024 – Active Phase
  6. Keʻelepulu 5 – Oct 2024 – Active Phase
  7. Keʻelepulu 4 – Oct 2024 – Active Phase
  8. Kailua 8 – Oct 2024 – Active Phase
  9. Maunawili 7 – Oct 2024 – Active Phase
  10. Maunawili 6 – Oct 2024 – Active Phase
  11. Honolulu – Sept 2024 – Active Phase
  12. Kailua 7 – August 2024 – Active phase
  13. Aiea – August 2024 – Active Phase
  14. ʻĀina Haina 2 – July 2024 – Active Phase
  15. Nuʻuanu 2 – June 2024 – Active Phase
  16. Kailua 6 – June 2024 – Active Phase
  17. Ka’elepulu 3 – June 2024 – Active Phase
  18. Kailua 5 – June 2024 – Active Phase
  19. Roundtop 2 – May 2024 – Active Phase
  20. Nuʻuanu 1 – May 2024 – Active Phase
  21. Kaneohe 15 – March 2024 – Active Phase
  22. Ka’elepulu 2 – March 2024 – Active Phase
  23. Pearl City – March 2024 – Active Phase
  24. Maunawili 5 – February 2024 – Active Phase
  25. Maunawili 4 – February 2024 – Active Phase
  26. Kahaluʻu Beach – January 2024 – Active Phase
  27. Kailua 4 – December 2023 – Active Phase
  28. Kāneʻohe 14 – December 2023 – Active Phase
  29. Lanikai 6 – December 2023 – Active Phase
  30. Round Top Drive 1 – December 2023 – Active Phase
  31. Kāneʻohe 13 – November 2023 – Active Phase
  32. Kailua 3 – November 2023 – Active Phase
  33. Waiāhole – September 2023 – Active Phase
  34. Waiheʻe – August 2023 – Active Phase
  35. Kaʻelepulu 1 – August 2023 – Active Phase
  36. Kāneʻohe 11 – June 2023 – Active Phase
  37. ‘Āhuimanu 2 – May 2023 – Active Phase
  38. Kāneʻohe 10 – February 2023 – Active Phase
  39. Lanikai 4 – December 2022 – Active Phase
  40. Kāneʻohe 9 – November 2022 – Active Phase
  41. Hauʻula 2 – November 2022 – Active Phase
  42. Kāneʻohe 8 – October 2022 – Active Phase
  43. Kāneʻohe 7 – October 2022 – Active Phase
  44. Kāneʻohe 6 – October 2022 – Active Phase
  45. Kāneʻohe 5 – September 2022 – Active Phase
  46. Kāneʻohe 4 – August 2022 – Active Phase
  47. Papakōlea – June 2022 – Active Phase
  48. Hauʻula 1 – January 2022 – Active Phase
  49. Kahuku – December 2021 – Active Phase
  50. Maunawili 2 – October 2021 – Active Phase
  51. Waimānalo 3 – April 2021 – Active Phase
  52. Kāneʻohe 3 – April 2021 – Active Phase
  53. Waimānalo 2 – February 2021 – Active Phase
  54. Mililani Mauka 2– November 2020 – Active Phase
  55. Sunset Beach- Detected Apr 2020 – Active Phase
  56. Kahala – February 2020 – Active Phase
  57. Makiki Lower – January 2020 – Active Phase
  58. ‘Āina Haina – December 2019 – Active Phase
  59. Kāneʻohe 2 – November 2019 – Active Phase
  60. Lāʻie – October 2019 – Active Phase
  61. Makiki Heights – July 2019 – Active Phase
  62. Kualoa Ranch – June 2019 – Active Phase

Monitoring Sites: These sites have undergone the treatment cycle and no LFA were detected once treatment was completed. Monitoring surveys continue for at least 3 years to ensure successful eradication.

  1. Kāneʻohe 12 – November 2023 – Monitoring Phase
  2. Waimanalo South – Detected Oct 2023 – Monitoring Phase
  3. Lanikai 5 – Detected Sept 2023 – Monitoring Phase
  4. Lanikai 3 – Detected Aug 2022 – Monitoring Phase
  5. Lanikai 2 – Detected May 2022 – Monitoring Phase
  6. Maunawili 3 – Detected August 2023 – Monitoring Phase
  7. Kailua 2 – Detected August 2021 – Monitoring Phase
  8. Hawaiʻi Kai 1 – Detected March 2022 – Monitoring Phase
  9. Kailua 2 – Detected Aug 2021 – Monitoring Phase
  10. Mānoa 1 – Detected Nov 2020 – Monitoring Phase
  11. Maunawili 1 – Detected Oct 2020 – Monitoring Phase
  12. Kailua 1 – Detected Oct 2020 – Monitoring Phase
  13. Pauoa – Detected Aug 2019 – Monitoring Phase
  14. Lanikai 1 – July 2019 – Monitoring Phase
  15. ‘Āhuimanu 1 – Detected Jan 2019 – Monitoring phase

Eradicated Sites: These sites have undergone successful treatment and have been ant-free for at least three years.

  1. Campbell Industrial Park – Detected Dec 2013 – Eradicated!
  2. Waimānalo 1 – Detected Apr 2014 – Eradicated!
  3. Mililani Mauka 1 – Jun 2014 – Eradicated!
  4. Kāneʻohe 1 – Detected Dec 2018 – Eradicated!
  5. Kaimuki/Punahou Carnival Plant Sale – Detected Feb 2019 – Eradicated!
  6. HECO Ward – Detected Jun 2019 – Eradicated!

LFA TREATMENT FOR ERADICATION: It may be helpful to understand that it takes at least 4 years to be sure of successful eradication of an infestation of little fire ants. We aren’t trying to just control ants and reduce their numbers, eradication means completely removing them from a site. The eradication process includes 8 treatments over the course of a year followed by years of regular monitoring to ensure no ant colonies persist. This method was developed by the Hawai’i Ant Lab (HAL), implemented by the Hawai’i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), and has proven successful in various sites across the state. 

Active Treatment Phase: Once LFA are confirmed at a site, a full survey to find the edge of the infestation, followed by treatments of the area (plus treatment of a “buffer zone” around the edge) every 6-8 weeks over one year.  At the end of the year, an intensive survey is conducted to detect any remaining little fire ants.  If ants are found, that site is treated in the same manner for an additional year.  If and when no ants are found, the site moves into the next phase of the eradication program…monitoring.  

Monitoring Phase: Once the active treatment phase is completed and no LFA are detected, the site is surveyed quarterly for at least 3 years.  Only at the end of this treatment and monitoring regime with no LFA detected can an infestation be considered eradicated.

Eradication: The site has been treated and undergone at least 3 years of monitoring, at which time is completed and no LFA have been detected, the site is considered eradicated. This means all queens and their colonies are gone.

On Oʻahu, you can mail ant samples to OISC for identification:

  • O’ahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC)
    • 743 Ulukahiki St.
    • Kailua, HI 96734
    • 808-266-7994 – Mon-Fri, 7:00am-3:30pm
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