New Zealand ant case exposes threat to Hawai'i
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer
An infestation of the venomous red imported fire ant was found in mid-February in a New Zealand port town, underscoring the risk to Hawai'i, where the swarming ant has not yet arrived, said Christy Martin of the Hawai'i Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.
The ant is established in California, a major source of air and shipping traffic to Hawai'i. If it got established here, it could be impossible to eradicate, in part because of the ability of ant queens to fly to new locations, she said.
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The ground-nesting insect swarms when bothered, and a nest can inflict hundreds of toxic bites that hurt like wasp stings and within a day produce white pustules. Some people have suffered fatal allergic reactions to the venom.
The ants also can attack pets and wild animals, and the impact on agriculture and tourism could be devastating, scientists advising the state's invasive species committees said.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is asking the Legislature for $5 million to beef up the state's response to invading alien species.
"We have been very encouraged by the response we've heard from the Legislature," said Peter Young, chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.
Many species pose a threat to Hawai'i, including the brown tree snake and several pests already here, such as the coqui frog and the spreading miconia tree, but few are as frightening as the fire ant, known to scientists as Solenopsis invicta.
New Zealand authorities in the eastern North Island port of Napier realized they had a problem over the weekend of Feb. 14-15 when they found about 200 worker ants stuck to a bait trap set up outside the port. They have since moved aggressively to try to kill the insects.
"New Zealand found the infestation because they have a comprehensive early detection program," Martin said.
An earlier invasion at the Auckland Airport was eradicated after a gardener stepped on a nest and was attacked.
An Australian city wasn't able to move quickly enough.
The ants were found at the Brisbane port in February 2001. Three years later, volunteer groups are continuing to scour the countryside, finding and destroying their nests. The Queensland government hopes to eradicate the ants, but concedes the effort will take several years at least.
"New Zealand has been successful in part because it is in their biosecurity law that they must protect the island from invasives," Martin said. "In Hawai'i we saw how long it took to respond to salvinia, (the aquatic weed in Lake Wilson). That was not quick response."
Young said the state is seeking $5 million for the coming year to improve the response. The money would be matched with private, county and federal money to create a $10 million annual fund.
The department expects to ask for $5 million each year for at least three more years to keep up the pressure on invasive species.
"We need to call attention to the idea that we're not going to solve all the problems in one year," he said.
Young said 35 percent would be used for prevention systems such as additional staff at ports and detection dogs; 30 percent for response and control efforts; 30 percent for research into new control technologies; and 5 percent to keep the public informed.
Hawai'i has the ant's lesser cousin, the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata. This ant stings, but not as severely and it doesn't swarm as readily as invicta.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at (808)245-3074 or jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.
