PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Did you know an aggressive crossbreed ant is invading Virginia? They are called hybrid fire ants, which are a mix of black fire ants and red fire ants, and they originated from South America.
The breed has been around since the 1930s and came to Virginia in 1989. As of recent, these hybrid ants have been spreading faster, particularly through southwestern Virginia. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said they pose a risk to people and livestock and crops.
VDACS said another major concern also surrounds their ability to destroy crops in Virginia due to their destructive nesting habits and severe stings. They carry a venom so powerful, it can cause intense allergic reactions that could even result in death.
Scotty Yang, assistant professor of farm entomology at Virginia Tech, has studied these complex insects for quite some time. He said they are extremely dangerous, and they’re able to sustain and spread faster because they are more cold tolerant than your average ant.
“If you are allergic to the venom, you could develop some hypersensitive reactions,” he says. “In some cases that will lead to death, of course. Yeah. But there are some populations that are more vulnerable than others — for example, newborn babies or toddlers. And another population that are super at risk is senior people in the nursing homes.”
The hybrid fire ants thrive in warm open areas and build mounds up to two feet tall. They can be distinguished by their shiny, red coats. Their queens can can release around 2,000 eggs per day.
While they haven’t quite made it to Hampton Roads officially, he said the odds of the aggressive breed coming here can’t be ruled out.
“I think there’s a possibility for hybrid fire ants to be able to get into the Hampton Roads area because there is some population boom,” he said, “and there are some population hybrids in North Carolina as well.”
The hybrid fire ant threat is expected to ramp up as the temperatures become warmer. If you come across a mound, do not attempt to dismantle it yourself. Instead, contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension for assistance.