Red imported fire ants threaten agriculture, wildlife and homes

The red imported fire ant, first discovered in 1997 in California, poses a threat to wildlife, agriculture, and public health. This history of the ant invasion from South America and its implications for control shows that, while all forms of agricultural activities would be affected by established ant populations, households would bear the greater costs. Agricultural costs are estimated for tree crops and vineyards, citrus, vegetables and melons, field crops, the nursery industry, animal industries, and rangeland. Damage costs are estimated at between $387-989 million annually. Given the high costs of eradication, the probability of successful eradication needs to be between 0.65-1.67%