Governor Josh Inexperienced, M.D. | DLNR NEWS RELEASE: OCTOBER IS STOP THE ANT MONTH

STATE OF HAWAIʻI

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

DAWN N.S. CHANG
CHAIRPERSON

OCTOBER IS STOP THE ANT MONTH

Hawaiʻi Residents Can Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Ants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

October 1, 2025

HONOLULU – October is Stop the Ant Month in Hawaiʻi and a multi-agency effort all through the month will encourage residents to gather and submit ants from their properties to assist detect and management the unfold of invasive little fireplace ants (LFA) and different dangerous pest ants that could be new to the state.

The marketing campaign is supported by the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC), administered by the DLNR, in cooperation with the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (HDAB), in addition to University of Hawaiʻi applications together with the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species and the Invasive Species Committees on every island.

DLNR Chair Dawn Chang, who additionally co-chairs the interagency HISC, mentioned, “There are no native ants in Hawaiʻi, and invasive ants like little fire ants can have major adverse impacts on ecosystems, agriculture and human and animal health. We need to aggressively detect and treat fire ant colonies; we rely on residents across Hawaiʻi to be our partners in reporting fire ant populations.”

LFA is taken into account among the many world’s worst invasive species as a result of they’ll type supercolonies consisting of thousands and thousands of stinging ants. LFA stings are painful and might trigger itchy purple welts that final for weeks. Stings to pets’ eyes trigger accidents which will lead to blindness. Unlike the tropical fireplace ant, a ground-nesting ant that has been current for the reason that 1800s, LFA are tiny ants measuring 1/16 of an inch lengthy, are orange in coloration and might fall from timber or vegetation to sting.

There are a number of LFA infestation websites on Kauaʻi, Maui and Oʻahu. Multi-agency response groups on these islands manage surveys to search out every infestation and, with permission from residents, conduct therapies to attempt to remove colonies. Infestations which can be discovered early sufficient may be eradicated and instruments can be found to suppress LFA, even when native eradication is not potential. Although LFA are additionally widespread on Hawai‘i Island, there are not any present detections on Lānaʻi or Molokaʻi. Controlling infestations prevents thousands and thousands of {dollars} in impacts and perpetual prices for communities.

Anyone can request a free ant-collection package by visiting www.StopTheAnt.org, or could make their very own utilizing family provides. A one-minute video, “How to Collect a Sample,” is accessible on the web site and exhibits the step-by-step process for accumulating ants out of your property, then submitting them for identification. Samples may be mailed or dropped off for identification at any of those areas:

• Oʻahu Invasive Species Committee: 808-266-7994, 743 Ulukahiki Street, Kailua, HI 96734
• Maui Invasive Species Committee (additionally accepting samples from Lānaʻi), 808-573-6472, PO Box 983, Makawao, HI 96768
• Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committee, 808-821-1490, 7370K Kuamoo Road, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
• Moloka‘i Invasive Species Committee, 808-553-4236, P.O. Box 220, Kualapuʻu, HI 96757
• Big Island Invasive Species Committee, 808-933-3346, 23 East Kawili Street, Hilo, HI 96720
• Hawai‘i Ant Lab in Hilo, 808-315-5656, 875 Komohana Street #213, Hilo, HI 96720
• Hawai‘i Ant Lab in Kona, 808-209-9014, c/o CTAHR Extension Office, 79-7381 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Kealakekua, HI 96750

The Stop the Ant marketing campaign additionally goals to search out different, new invasive ant species that would affect Hawaiʻi, just like the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA). RIFA are answerable for billions of {dollars} in agricultural and infrastructure losses and medical prices globally. Detecting and responding to new dangerous ant species to reduce widespread long-term prices is a precedence for the state. With Hawai‘i’s reliance on imports from around the globe and ants’ means to hitchhike on shipped supplies, the chance is excessive. The state, with assist from neighborhood members, should stay vigilant to cease the unfold.

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RESOURCES

(All photographs/video courtesy: DLNR)

Video – LFA in Hawai‘i: How to gather a pattern (April 2021):

Photographs – October is Stop the Ant Month (numerous):

Stop the Ant web site and take a look at package request type/directions:

www.StopTheAnt.org

Media Contact: 

Ryan Aguilar

Communications Specialist

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources

Phone: 808-587-0396

Email: [email protected]