European Fire Ants Invade Canada

June 22, 2009 4:08 p.m. EST

Halifax, Canada (AHN) - European fire ants have invaded parts of Canada, particularly Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. The spread of the fire ants has worsened in Nova Scotia and officials in that capital city will hold a briefing for residents on Monday night how to protect themselves from the insect.

The invasion has caused yards to become unusable, while homeowner have to don protective gear when moving the grass or hanging clothes dry.. The ant, which belongs to the specie Myrmica rubra, has a bite compared to a hornet's sting and an itch similar to poison ivy.

To make matters worse, the insects have learned to avoid insecticides. Because of the damage caused by the fire ants, it has caused real estate values in infected areas to plummet.

Specific areas in Halifax with identified heavy populations of the European fire ant are Summit Street and Jubilee Road, Spryfield, Lower Sackville, Abercrombie and Stellarton.

Among the advice that experts have given to residents in the past are for homeowners to check garden materials they bring in such as soil, mulch, plants and decaying logs to make sure it is ants free. Another is the removal of probable nesting sites like boards, logs and rocks or anything that keeps a moist environment.

Known effective pest control products for these ants are boric acid and diatomaceous earth.