Coachella Valley Mosquito
and
VectorControl
District
Red Imported Fire Ants Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) are a species of ant known for
their aggressive behavior and painful sting. These ants have found their way
into the Coachella Valley from the Southeast United States where RIFA have
caused catastrophic damage to the agricultural, horticultural and recreational
industries. The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is
committed to stopping the infestation of the Coachella Valley from this pest and
preventing the migration of this species to other areas of California.
Red Imported Fire Ants are known as “imported” because they do not originate
from this country. Theory says the ants came to the United States around 1930
aboard shipping vessels from South America that docked in Alabama. Today, RIFA
infest more than 300 million acres in twelve states across the United States
with the most recent infested states being New Mexico and California.
BIOLOGY Red Imported Fire Ants are very small ranging from
one-sixteenth of an inch to one-quarter of an inch, and are reddish-brown in
color. The most distinguishing characteristic is a medial clypeal tooth which
is visible under high magnification; otherwise it is very hard to distinguish
this species from ant just by looking at them.
ENVIRONMENT RIFA live underground and can be distinguished by the irregular
type mounds they build wherever they can find suitable moisture. The mounds
appear as small piles of loose soil peppered with very small holes. These
mounds will be inherently wider than tall and some can approach 18 inches across
or larger. RIFA are not only attracted to moisture but can also be attracted to
electrical currents and can be found inside electrical boxes, sprinkler systems,
lighting timers and swimming pool filter equipment.
THREAT The
Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) threat to public health is two-fold, one is the
severity of multiple stings and bites from the ants and the other is to the one
or two percent of the population that is allergic to fire ant venom. In some
cases the allergy may be severe enough to cause death. The health threat to
most people involves the prospect of serious stinging incidents. RIFA have a
fierce sting that can leave a victim with painful, itchy welts on their skin.
Care must be taken to avoid scratching and cause a secondary infection. In
addition to the direct health and safety issues, fire ants threaten our natural
environment, recreational facilities, and our outdoor living style. RIFA is also
the most recent of an increasing number of new pests that have been introduced
into the Coachella Valley.
RIFA can attack and kill pets and other wildlife. They can also attack
agricultural workers, compete with beneficial insects and devour important
crops, such as citrus, strawberries and corn.
RIFA attack when their mounds are disturbed, this usually happens when an
innocent bystander or their pet inadvertently steps on their mound. These
aggressive ants are attracted by movement and can swarm by the hundreds onto
people and animals long before they even realize they have come into contact
with them. RIFA can sting multiple times so you can have many more stings than
there are ants. Stings can be very painful and have been compared to being
poked by a hot needle.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND FAMILY FROM RIFA You can reduce your risk of being stung by Red Imported Fire Ants
by dressing properly when walking, gardening or digging outdoors. Among some
precautions you should take:
Wear gloves and closed toe shoes with socks.
Make sure children are properly dressed when playing
outdoors.
Survey your property for suspected ant mounds before
outdoor activity.
WHAT TO DO IF STUNG BY RIFA If you are stung by a Red Imported Fire Ant, these simple yet
effective tips can help with the discomfort and prevent a secondary infection:
Cleanse the area with soap and water to prevent infection.
Elevate the area bitten and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling, relieve
minor pain and itching.
Keep the area clean and avoid scratching blisters to reduce the chance of
infection or scarring.
Apply a topical ointment or take an oral histamine to relieve the itching.
Seek medical attention if pain or swelling becomes intense, if the area
becomes infected, or if you suspect you may be having an allergic reaction to
the stings.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE AN
INFESTATION
Do not disturb the ants or mound.
Do not attempt to destroy the ants yourself.
Call the CVMVCD to report a
suspected RIFA infestation at (760)342-8287. District
staff will help you assess the situation and a premise inspector will be sent
to your property free of charge.
Download RIFA Brochure Click on either link for
additional information on RIFA in the Coachella Valley and the services the
CVMVCD offers the public.
Brochures are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Viewer.
You can download Adobe Acrobat here:
Coachella Valley Mosquito
and
ENVIRONMENT
The
Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) threat to public health is two-fold, one is the
severity of multiple stings and bites from the ants and the other is to the one
or two percent of the population that is allergic to fire ant venom. In some
cases the allergy may be severe enough to cause death. The health threat to
most people involves the prospect of serious stinging incidents. RIFA have a
fierce sting that can leave a victim with painful, itchy welts on their skin.
Care must be taken to avoid scratching and cause a secondary infection. In
addition to the direct health and safety issues, fire ants threaten our natural
environment, recreational facilities, and our outdoor living style. RIFA is also
the most recent of an increasing number of new pests that have been introduced
into the Coachella Valley. 
