For the first time ever, little fire ants have been found in a forest reserve in Hawaiʻi, and officials say the impacts could ripple far beyond the trails.
Painful stings and long-term threats to pets, wildlife, and even tourism, this infestation is already pretty concerning.
What’s happening?
In February, a hiker in Hauʻula Forest Reserve reported being bitten while on the Ma’akua Ridge-Papali Trail, as reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser .
After testing a sample with peanut butter on a stick (a standard technique for tracking invasive ants), scientists confirmed it was the little fire ant, or Wasmannia auropunctata. It’s the first time these ants have been found in an Oʻahu forest reserve…