The Imported fire ant has become established in parts of Eastern Kentucky in an area of about 500 square miles. What we have determined is that in this area, it is the hybrid of the black and red imported fire ants that have been detected. While we don't have the ability to eradicate them from areas where they have spread, we slow the spread by controlling colonizers in areas where they are not yet established.  

One success story is the Louisville imported fire ant abatement in a residential area near Blankenbaker Parkway. Imported fire ants are an invasive pest of public health concern that have recently become established in SE Kentucky along sections of the border with Virginia and Tennessee. The health threat is due to very serious allergic reactions to its sting. Once established, we are not able to eliminate then from, however, we do work to eliminate them when the initial colonizers move into a new area. We term this ‘slow the spread’.

 A report submitted in March 2024 from a Jefferson county homeowner was acted upon by personnel from the Jefferson county Extension office (Jennifer Palmer), UK Department of Entomology (Dr. Ric Bessin), and the Office of the State Entomologist (Joe Collins). The location in Louisville is more than 110 miles from any known active imported fire ant mound within the state. The large mound was confirmed to be imported fire ant, the mound was treated, and confirmed to have been eliminated. This week, we have had two additional reports submitted through the Office of the State Entomologist. The team works to determine if these reports are actually are imported fire ants, and if they are, effectively treat and eliminate the mounds before they have the opportunity to spread and become established in the area.

During this reporting period, additional imported fire ant mounds outside of the established areas in Whitley, Knox, McCreary, Bell, and Laurel were treated and killed in order to slow the spread of this public health threat.