HAVE YOU TESTED YOUR YARD FOR LITTLE FIRE ANT? It’s soooo easy and even more important. Find them…before they find you!!
We need your help! ...you can pick up free test kits at these Oʻahu locations to collect and send in your ant samples:
Mānoa Public Library: 2716 Woodlawn Dr. Manoa, HI 96822 HOURS
Waikiki-Kapahulu Library: 400 Kapahulu Ave. Honolulu, HI 96815 HOURS
Waimānalo Library: 41-1320 Kalanianaeole Hwy. Waimanalo, HI 96795 HOURS
Pearl City Home Depot: 1021 Kamehameha Hwy, Pearl City, HI 96782 HOURS
Do you need a free test kit? NO…all you need are chopsticks and peanut butter: How To Test for LFA
Q: We’ve already got fire ants are everywhere…I always get stung at the beach and the park. What’s the big deal?
A: Most people on Oʻahu have experienced “Tropical Fire Ant”…but “Little Fire Ant” is a different beast. Tropical Fire Ants live in sunny, dry areas….while Little Fire Ants like it shady and damp. Also, Little Fire Ants will live in the trees and on the ground. People who have experienced areas heavily infested with little fire ant talk of “raining ants” and getting repeated stings on their head, face, arms and back. This is the situation we want to avoid on Oʻahu.
Q: I’ve never seen little fire ant at my place, why should I test?
A: Just because you don’t see them, doesn’t mean they’re not there. Little fire ant only spread about 60 feet per year (as long as we don’t move them). So, they could be hanging out in a shrub, going unnoticed for a long time. We want to find them BEFORE they spread all over your yard. If we can find them while their colonies are still small…it’s so much easier to eradicate them.
Q: What happens if I do have little fire ants?
A: Because they are still not widespread on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Dept. of Agriculture will help you get rid of them!
Q: Do I have to have go pick up one of these fancy test kits?
A: Nope!! All you need are some chopsticks, popsicle sticks, or coffee stirrers, a ziplock bag and some peanut butter (use lunch meat or mayo if you’re allergic to peanut butter). Testing is quick and easy in just 5 steps! For testing details, CLICK HERE
For more information on little fire ants in Hawaiʻi…visit: www.stoptheant.org