Little Fire Ant Research
The research section of Hawaiʻi Ant Lab (HAL) is dedicated to testing current and potential control methods to advance the battle against Little Fire Ants (LFA) in Hawaiʻi and worldwide. We pride ourselves on being a “collaborative powerhouse” and have partners in all sectors. Even though much of our collaborations are with various large and small chemical companies testing and developing effective baits for LFA control, we also work with private land holders for eradication efforts, experimentation, and to get ideas for new directions in bait technology. We also have worked closely with scientists from USDA Agriculture Research Services on various projects, and act as LFA management consultants for various foreign government agencies in the Pacific region who are finding themselves at the forefront of an LFA invasion.
With a staff of just two people, the research section accomplishes an incredible amount of work for the sole purpose of helping the public. Although we do accomplish a lot, we also cannot get to every suggestion that comes our way. We try to prioritize and focus on those suggestions/questions frequently posed to us and that which might best fulfill gaps and needs of communities affected by LFA. All of the findings from our research and the techniques developed are (and always will be) available for free to anyone who would like to access them.
To learn more about specific research projects, check out the Research Updates and Publications sections below.
Research Updates
Stay current on the latest Little Fire Ant research by the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab.
Little Fire Ants: A Global Perspective
Have you ever wondered what the deal is with Little Fire Ants (LFA)? Where did they come from? Where are they going? What’s all the fuss (they’re just ants anyway, right)? Why are these Little F****g Ants EVERYWHERE and I didn’t even know?! WHY CAN’T THERE BE A SIMPLER WAY TO CONTROL THEM FOR HEAVEN’S…
Little Fire Ant Biocontrol
Recently, researchers detected a new parasitoid wasp (Orasema minutissima) in the South Hilo and Puna districts of the Hawai‘i Island. This is exciting news since this species of wasp is known to parasitize Little Fire Ants (LFA) throughout parts of their native range and in the Caribbean. Right now, we don’t know how long the…
The “P” Word (Oh my!)
Pesticides. There, I said it. As time goes on, more and more people become wary of pesticides and it has become somewhat of a “bad” word or taboo subject and it’s time we address “the elephant in the room”. The fear of pesticides is not unfounded and there are very good examples of the harm…
Bibliography of
Little Fire Ant Literature
Browse through a compilation of literature on Little Fire Ants published by the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab and other researchers.
Gel Bait Applicators
Watch videos where we experiment with different pressurized applicators for large scale application of bait.
2010 International Invasive Ant Management Workshop (IIAMW)
This workshop aimed to facilitate networking among people from around the world involved in invasive ant management, as well as to improve the incorporation of research and ant biology into management.
The Hawaiʻi Ant Lab hosts the presentations presented at this workshop.
Experimental Site Participation Sign-Up
Our research program is always in search of testing sites for new LFA control methods. Testing methods in the field is necessary to evaluate how effective an LFA control method/product is and get that information out to the public. Please fill out this form if you are interested in being a Hawaiʻi Ant Lab partner and having your property considered for future experiments.
