“Fire! Little Fire Ants in Hawaii”, a new documentary on the little fire ant, will air this Saturday, June 18th at 6:30 pm, on KITV channel 4. This 30-minute documentary examines the spread of the little fire ant across our Islands and the people who work to address one of the most significant invasive species problems we face
Until recently, little fire ants were limited primarily to Hawaii Island but as the infestations have grown there, so has the inevitability of their spread.
First introduced to Puna in 1999, and shortly thereafter to Kauai, these ants are one of the worst invasive species imaginable in Hawaii. They invade houses, gardens, and forests. The ants are also arboreal; they swarm up plants and trees. When disturbed, they drop off, falling onto people and animals. Unsuspecting victims are left with painful stings.
In January of 2014 little fire ants were detected on Oahu, leading to a multi-agency response resulting in containment and eradication. These tiny pests have hitchhiked to Maui and Lanai as well. Meanwhile Hawaii Island residents are faced with creating sanctuaries amidst a sea of stinging ants. If you miss the documentary this Saturday…you can also watch it here.
