RICHMOND—A long-established invasive pest is marching across Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced that Virginia’s Imported Fire Ant Quarantine has expanded to include the counties of Chesterfield, Lee, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Prince George and Surry, and the cities of Colonial Heights, Danville, Hopewell and Petersburg. The quarantine now covers 18 counties and 15 cities.

Imported fire ants have become established in the newly quarantined areas, according to recent VDACS surveys. Once established, they can spread to uninfested areas through natural means or human-assisted movement of infested articles.

“Fire ants have a long history in Virginia,” noted Eric Day, Virginia Cooperative Extension entomologist. “They were first discovered in Virginia in 1989 and spread over much of the Southeast initially.”

Preferring warmer climates, red imported fire ants can be found throughout Southeast and South-Central Virginia. And a new hybridized species—a result of interbreeding between red and black imported fire ants—are more cold-tolerant and succeeding in Southwest Virginia.

Brunswick County farmer Reggie Owens has lost count of the years dealing with red imported fire ants on his property. The first mound-shaped nest appeared “out of the blue.” Now he’s surrounded by mounds up to a foot tall.

“I discover them all the time when I’m out working,” he said. “You learn not to walk on them.”

When disturbed, fire ants respond rapidly and aggressively and inflict painful venomous stings that can cause a burning sensation, itching blisters or severe allergic reactions.

“It’s a worker safety issue,” Day emphasized. “Farmers and farm workers need to be aware of fire ants and what kind of reaction they have to them, because it varies quite a bit.”

Owens stays vigilant—moving cattle away from infested areas and treating mounds on sight with approved bait.

Imported fire ants also damage crops, agricultural equipment and the environment; displace native ant species; and reduce wildlife food sources, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To help prevent human-assisted spread, regulated articles are prohibited from moving out of the quarantined area unless they are certified free of imported fire ants. Regulated articles include:

• Any life stage of the imported fire ant
• Soil, except soil shipped in original containers after commercial preparation
• Plants with roots and soil attached and rhizomes with soil attached
  Grass sod
• Used soil-moving and farm equipment, unless free of all non-compacted soil
• Hay and straw stored in direct contact with the ground
• Honeybee hives stored in direct contact with the ground
• Logs and pulpwood with soil attached

Businesses in quarantined localities that are shipping to locations outside of the quarantined area are required to follow the USDA-approved treatment and shipping options.

If you suspect a fire ant infestation within the quarantine area, use caution and contact your local Extension office for treatment recommendations. Report potential fire ant infestations outside of the quarantine area to VDACS.

Visit the VDACS website for additional information on the Virginia Imported Fire Ant Quarantine, including the updated map.

Tune in to Real Virginia’s first July episode to learn more. Real Virginia airs nationwide at 4:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month in the Voices of Agriculture program on RFD-TV on Dish Network and DirecTV; and on selected broadcast and cable outlets around the state.

Media: Contact Day at ericday@vt.edu; Owens at 434-637-3529; or Mike Wallace, VDACS communications, at 804-786-1904.