Enjoying the Fire Ants This Summer?

 

How did those pesky fire ants get up here in Northwest Alabama? Here's a short American bio for those ubiquitous pests:

Fire ants were introduced to the United States through the port of Mobile, Alabama, on multiple occasions in the early 20th century. While the exact name of the vessel that first carried them remains unrecorded, it is widely accepted that they arrived as stowaways in the soil used for ballast on cargo ships originating from South America.

Two primary species of imported fire ants established themselves in the U.S. The black imported fire ant is believed to have arrived around 1918. Subsequently, the more aggressive red imported fire ant was introduced in the late 1930s.

These ships, likely tramp freighters, would take on soil as ballast in their home ports to maintain stability during their voyages. Upon reaching Mobile, this soil was offloaded to make room for cargo, inadvertently releasing the fire ant colonies into a new environment where they thrived and spread throughout the southern United States.

So if you encounter a nest, call out Que les bons moments roulent and they should quickly disperse. Mobile is welcome to them.