Plant Industry - Plant Protection Section
Entomological Services
Red Imported Fire Ant Program
The red imported fire ant (RIFA) is a nuisance and health concern to humans, livestock, and wildlife due to its painful sting. The red imported fire ant was first detected in the United States in Alabama in 1918. It was first identified in the southeastern part of North Carolina in Brunswick County in 1957.
Portions or entire areas of 63 of North Carolina's 100 counties are considered generally infested with red imported fire ants. The NCDA&CS issues certification and compliance agreements to individuals and industries engaged in the movement of potentially contaminated commodities to reduce man assisted movement of these ants.
The NCDA&CS maintains a Community Assistance Program to advise local citizens in the identification of efficacious and environmentally sound control measures.
Approved treatment guidelines for the various categories of IFA regulated articles are contained in the following links:
- Nursery Stock, Balled or in Containers: Method A - Immersion
- Nursery Stock, Balled or in Containers: Method B - Drenching
- Nursery Stock, Balled or in Containers: Method C - Topical Application
- Nursery Stock, Balled or in Containers: Method D - Incorporation of Granular Insecticides Into Potting Media
- Nursery Stock, Balled or in Containers: Method E - In-Field Treatment for B&B Stock Prior to Harvest
- Nursery Stock, Balled or in Containers: Method F - The Fire Ant Free Nursery Program (Containerized Plants Only)
- Used Earth Moving Equipment, Baled Hay and Straw, Greenhouse-Grown Plants,
Grass Sod, Bulk Soil and Soil Samples
- Mitigative Measures for all Treatments
- Authorized Insecticides
- Bulk Density Determinations
- Bulk Density Determination Form
- Talstar® Nursery Granular Insecticide - Specimen Label
- USDA APHIS Publication: Imported Fire Ant 2008 Quarantine
Treatments for Nursery Stock and Other Regulated Articles (Contains all the treatment recommendations in one pdf formatted document)
- Imported Fire Ant; Additions to the list of quarantined areas: Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 24, February 8, 2008
(The linked document provides details of USDA's amendments to its imported fire ant quarantine areas).
RIFA WORK COMPLETED IN 2007 |
County |
Miles Surveyed |
Acres Surveyed |
New Sites |
Survey Totals by County |
Alamance |
607 |
87 |
2 |
Bertie |
116 |
3 |
11 |
Bladen |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Brunswick |
20 |
0 |
0 |
Buncombe |
1595 |
149 |
4 |
Burke |
1451 |
128 |
1 |
Cabarrus |
39 |
14 |
0 |
Camden |
154 |
1 |
2 |
Catawba |
1945 |
218 |
13 |
Chowan |
23 |
1 |
0 |
Currituck |
200 |
3 |
0 |
Dare |
120 |
5 |
0 |
Davidson |
1884 |
261 |
45 |
Davie |
1031 |
151 |
1 |
Durham |
331 |
31 |
19 |
Forsyth |
535 |
85 |
0 |
Franklin |
1409 |
81 |
53 |
Gates |
172 |
7 |
5 |
Graham |
602 |
259 |
8 |
Granville |
264 |
8 |
6 |
Guilford |
1111 |
169 |
0 |
Halifax |
682 |
33 |
6 |
Haywood |
1236 |
356 |
0 |
Henderson |
709 |
591 |
1 |
Hertford |
359 |
12 |
12 |
Iredell |
1224 |
139 |
12 |
Jackson |
2893 |
352 |
3 |
Lenoir |
83 |
9 |
0 |
Lincoln |
1502 |
160 |
6 |
McDowell |
1340 |
89 |
1 |
Macon |
694 |
639 |
12 |
Martin |
91 |
0 |
16 |
Nash |
1072 |
73 |
32 |
Newhanover |
53 |
5 |
0 |
North Hampton |
329 |
8 |
0 |
Orange |
5105 |
267 |
149 |
Pasquotank |
406 |
8 |
12 |
Perquimans |
137 |
4 |
5 |
Randolph |
1605 |
219 |
32 |
Rowan |
1192 |
165 |
15 |
Rutherford |
1698 |
181 |
19 |
Swain |
1486 |
65 |
0 |
Transylvania |
532 |
117 |
1 |
Vance |
255 |
19 |
5 |
Warren |
134 |
5 |
0 |
Total |
38428 |
5177 |
509 |
For additional information see:
RELATED LINKS:
2008 North Carolina Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Area Map
Imported Fire Ant Quarantine - 2008 Boundary Description
NC IFA Quarantine Areas from 1972-present
NCDA&CS Imported Fire Ant Regulations
NCDA&CS Imported Fire Ant Regulated Articles
NCDA&CS Imported Fire Ant Biological Control
Quarantine Area for the Imported Fire Ant Expanded - News Release 1/25/08
Imported Fire Ant Quarantine - U.S. Map
Control of the Red Imported Fire Ant - NCCES/NCDA&CS
Texas A&M Fire Ant Site
Fire Ants, Armadillos, and Phorid Flies - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions*
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