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Little Fire Ants Found in Kona

Reported by: Brianne Randle
Email: brandle@khon2.com
Last Update: 1/28 8:15 am
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   Considered among the world's worst invasive species - the "Little Fire Ant" has now spread to the Kona side of the Big Island.
    
Some farmers say cuts to the Department of Agriculture are taking a toll on getting rid of these and other pests.

The Plant Pest Control Branch lost 40% of their staff in the latest round of cuts, with only 2 workers left on the Big Island, one on Kauai and none left on Maui.

     The latest discoveries of "little fire ants" were at someone's  home and at a landscaping company's holding yard in Kailua-Kona.  State Agriculture officials believe the infestation may have been there for about two years.
    
The stinging ant was first spotted in Puna in 1999 and has also been found to have spread to Maui and Kauai.

"My reaction was it is inevitable, with all the cuts that we're seeing at the Department of Agriculture, in inspectors and everything, I don't have too much hope this isn't gonna be on every island," says Dean Okimoto, Hawaii Farm Bureau.

"The cuts will certainly have a severe impact on what we can and cannot do," says Neil Reimer, State Plant Pest Control Branch.  "We're suffering right now, doing the best we can with what we have."

     Before,  the DOA could focus on 7 or 8 invasive species at a time.  Now, with limited staffing, they are having to prioritize their efforts,  only focusing on one or two pests at a time.

    They are also relying on the public to report any sighting of the stinging ant by calling the state's hotline at: 643-PEST.
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