WHAT’S UP

The Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) came to the U.S. more than 70

years ago on a ship that landed in Mobile, Ala., from South America. They

have been spreading west ever since, leaving a life-changing path of

destruction.

More than 70% of the state of Texas, or 56 million acres, is under RIFA

quarantine. In Texas, they often hold barbecues on cul de sac blacktops

because the ants have taken over backyards.

In the style of the Old West posse, Texas “block parties” are held to try

to eradicate new colonies. Texas estimates its 1998 RIFA losses at $300

million.

Ask 10 people and 10 people are likely to tell you they didn’t know that

the entire county of Orange is under RIFA quarantine. We are, in fact,

the most heavily infested county in the state. The list of infested

county communities has grown to include nearly every town, including

Costa Mesa.

These ferocious insects are about the same size as our California native

ants, but they attack, swarm and sting almost anything on the ground,

especially something that moves. The ants clamp onto their victim with

their jaws and sting repeatedly with their tails.

Golfers, the RIFA love the lush fairways and greens and aerated soil on

which you play. Golf courses make the perfect breeding ground and none

will escape the ants unless they are stopped.

Use electricity? Here are some excerpts from SB 204, a bill to provide

state funding for the control of the RIFA: “RIFA are also attracted to

electrical current and can short circuit air conditioners and similar

electrical devices. They are adept at finding their way into structures

and pose a significant threat to the bedridden and infants.

“Nationally, over $1 billion is spent on RIFA controls and repairs. In

Alabama, RIFA has made backyard leisure all but impossible, and nearly

$300 is spent annually by each household on RIFA control.”

The RIFA were discovered in Costa Mesa not long ago, but if you think

that excludes Newport Beach from their hit list, think again. If they’re

not there now, they will soon be unless we stop them. And if you think

$300 a year isn’t much money, think about giving up your backyard

forever.

Here is what you can do:

* Contact your state representatives and the governor’s office and insist

on more state funding to fight the ants here in Orange County. You can

contact Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer’s office at (949) 863-7070 and state

Sen. Ross Johnson’s office at (949) 833-0180.

* Contact your county supervisor and state your support for the RIFA

fight. If they know we’re behind them, they’ll aggressively pursue state

funds. If you live in Newport Beach, call Thomas Wilson’s office at (714)

834-3550. If you live in Costa Mesa, call James Silva’s office at (714)

834-3220.

* Alert your children to the presence of the ants. Tell them to speak up

if they see an anthill.

* If you spot a RIFA hill, call the state Department of Agriculture

Hotline at 1-800-491-1899.

Here’s what you should not do:

* Don’t keep your kids indoors.

* Don’t scare kids with tales of ant stings. Inform them, don’t alarm

them.

* Don’t spray or bait your yard unless you see ants in it. The folks at

American Cyanamid, makers of the effective RIFA pesticide Amdro, are firm

in their belief that too much of their product is just as bad as too

little.

* Don’t think it’s not your problem. Make the calls at the break of the

business day on Monday or e-mail or fax right now, regardless of whether

you have an ant problem.

* Don’t underestimate the power of the Red Imported Fire Ant. The

populations of entire states are living vastly different lives because

they did just that. Many Sun Belt states have given up the fight against

the ants and are now resigned to life with them forever.

Now, our way of life and our economy are being threatened by the RIFA. If

you do nothing else this week, contact your elected representatives and

tell them to make RIFA funding their top priority.

If the RIFA are not stopped, we’ll be facing cul de sac barbecues and ant

posses. That’s exactly what happened in the communities that acted too

late.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer. He can be

reached at (949) 642-6086 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected].

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