An invasive species of ants not native to the U.S. has been detected in Louisiana. A colony of the Asian needle ant was detected in East Baton Rouge Parish last month. Aaron Ashbrook, an entomology professor at LSU, says as the name implies, the species is native to Japan and China, although it’s been in the U.S. since the 1930s; and it was recently found in the South.
“We had gotten some reports recently of the ants spreading in Mississippi. And so we thought, given the climatic similarities between Mississippi and Louisiana, it should be here in the state given its proximity,” Ashbrook said.
Ashbrook says unlike fire ants, the Asian needle ant is not a mound-forming ant.
“They typically live in very moist soil or moist wood. They’re in fact termite specialists, so they’re typically near areas where they can acquire and feed upon termites,” Ashbrook explained.
Ashbrook says you should protect yourself by wearing gloves, especially after a good rainstorm.
“You would typically encounter these ants if you were working with wet wood and wet soil, and there’s that potential for them to be aggravated and sting the individual,” Ashbrook said.
The Asian needle ant’s sting is much more painful than that of the fire ant. Ashbrook says the best way to control Asian needle ants is to apply scatter baits in areas where you see them foraging. They would then take that bait back to their nests and share it with their colony-mates.
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