Be aware of fire ants found on base

The base’s Pest Management shop has begun eradicating fire ant colonies that have been discovered on Tinker Air Force Base for the first time.

Exterminators recently began eradication treatments around a significant number of mostly small- to medium-sized nests, or mounds, found on the grounds near the Child Development Center, Bldg. 1101, and near Gerrity Sports and Fitness Center, Bldg. 6004. 

The eradications will be a two-step process. First, granular bait will be broadcast in October and April across the entire site where ants occur.

A typical granular bait consists of pesticides on processed corn grits coated with soybean oil that the ants take into the nest. The poison kills the queen(s) and other ants to destroy the colony. The poison manufacturer says the bait typically kills the queen within a week and the colony in two weeks after application.

The second step will be to follow up with applications of insecticides on individual mounds that persist after the first step.

Parents and all base personnel are advised to be aware of the dirt nests in grass. The ants emerge in a mass when their nest is disturbed, such as when a child or adult steps on its surface, and will swarm to bite and sting people.

The painful stings of fire ants develop into pustules (small, firm blister-like sores) in 24-48 hours, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Fire ant venom may cause a severe reaction in hypersensitive individuals, including nausea, shock, chest pains, and in rare cases, coma, an OSHA advisory said.

Exterminators and base natural resources personnel and volunteers will be monitoring the infestations, which were confirmed to be red imported fire ants. To report colonies, contact the Civil Engineering work order desk at 734-3117.

The colonies near the Child Development Center and Gerrity were marked with small white flags on the end of a wire. Personnel should avoid these areas. 

A fire ant nest on base was confirmed in late September and treated immediately. Further surveying revealed more than 150 nests in the colony around the Child Development Center and more than 50 nests in the colony near Gerrity Gym.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national fire ant quarantine area currently includes the southern one-third of Oklahoma as a known northern reach of fire ants. The ants are common in the South and Texas.

Natural Resources Manager John Krupovage said the fire ants likely arrived in sod or other plant materials brought in by contractors when the facilities were built or renovated and then landscaped. The base requires contractors to confirm that such materials are fire ant-free before they are brought on base. This is done by contractors being under a Federal Compliance Agreement or by providing a phyto-sanitation certificate, Mr. Krupovage said.  

“We’re going to step up Civil Engineering efforts to make sure these contractors are complying with those procedures, and we’ll work at the Child Development Center and anywhere else we find them to make sure the populations are wiped out,” Mr. Krupovage said.

Natural resources personnel believe fire ants have not been able to survive on Tinker due to cold winter temperatures, Mr. Krupovage said. Recent warm winters may be the reason the colonies have successfully established and spread. 

“Further complicating matters is potential climate change,” Mr. Krupovage said. “If climatologists’ forecasts materialize, then our region would experience more mild winter temperatures, making central Oklahoma more favorable habitat for the ants, similar to what we see in southern Oklahoma.”

Staff biologist Ray Moody said he is concerned about the fire ants’ impact on the protected Texas horned lizard population on base. Mr. Moody and the Civil Engineering Directorate’s Natural Resources office monitor the lizards and take steps to encourage a healthy population.

“Not only are these guys bad for people, they are bad for the Texas horned lizard,” Mr. Moody said. “In fact, in Texas, where the lizard is listed as ‘threatened,’ fire ants are considered to be one of the primary reasons for the decline of the species, due to direct attacks on lizards and competition with native ants, the horned lizards’ primary food source. Horned lizards don’t eat fire ants.”

Tips for dealing with fire ants:

• Be aware. Don’t stand on ant nests or areas where they are foraging.

• Wear boots and/or tuck pant legs into your socks to reduce the risk of bites/stings.

• Use insect repellants, such as DEET or Picaridin, on clothing and footwear.

• If attacked, leave the area immediately while brushing off ants with the use of a gloved hand or by using a cloth.

• Consult your pharmacist for treatment of minor bites and irritation.

• Seek immediate medical attention, particularly if you feel short of breath or have swelling.