• PRINT EDITIONS
  • | CONTACT
  • | TEL: 540.962.2121 | E: hello@virginianreview.com
Thursday, June 26, 2025
The Virginian Review
  • NEWS
    • NEWS CENTER
    • CRIME
    • COMMUNITY
    • LOCAL NEWS
    • STATE NEWS
    • NATIONAL NEWS
    • BUSINESS & TECH
  • Obituaries
  • GOVERNMENT
    • GOVERNMENT NEWS CENTER
    • CITY
    • COUNTY
    • STATE
  • Sports
    • SPORTS CENTER
    • LOCAL SPORTS
    • HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
    • COLLEGE SPORTS
  • Entertainment
  • Public Notices
    • LEGAL NOTICES
    • PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • STATEWIDE LEGAL SEARCH
  • The Shadow
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NEWS CENTER
    • CRIME
    • COMMUNITY
    • LOCAL NEWS
    • STATE NEWS
    • NATIONAL NEWS
    • BUSINESS & TECH
  • Obituaries
  • GOVERNMENT
    • GOVERNMENT NEWS CENTER
    • CITY
    • COUNTY
    • STATE
  • Sports
    • SPORTS CENTER
    • LOCAL SPORTS
    • HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
    • COLLEGE SPORTS
  • Entertainment
  • Public Notices
    • LEGAL NOTICES
    • PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
    • STATEWIDE LEGAL SEARCH
  • The Shadow
No Result
View All Result
The Virginian Review
No Result
View All Result
From left: Marty Wood, Covington Middle School assistant principal; Allen Dressler,Covington City Manager, Dr. Brett Milliken and Dr. Hannah Scherer of Virginia Tech;Jimmy Hogendobler, co-owner of Wiley’s Garden Center, and VT grad student KaylaHarris meet to plan a new hands-on STEM-agriculture program for Covington MiddleSchool students are launching this fall. (AHPS Photo)

STEM-Ag Taking Root at CMS through Va. Tech Partnership

June 26, 2025
Spring with flowering trees around the promenade and Spine of North Campus photographed in May 2022. rrPhotographer: Douglas Levere

Sabrina Gu named to University at Buffalo’s spring 2025 dean’s list

June 26, 2025
Photo courtesy of Mike Klee

Library to Host Mike Klee’s Big Balloon Show

June 26, 2025

EPA Environmental Protection Agency Public Notice Kim-Stan Superfund Site Legal 6-26-25

June 26, 2025

Recycle Lady: Wet Newspapers, Barbed Wire and Oil

June 26, 2025

Tags

Alleghany Alleghany County Bath County Business Cat Clifton Clifton Forge Community County Covington Dear Abby District Echoes of the Past Education Family Featured Forge Game Health Home Individual Information Law Meeting Nation Night Office OK Parent Past People Rent Report Road School South Street Student Team Time Tree VA Virginia War West
QR Code

Hybrid fire ants concerning landowners, agricultural communities

by Virginian Review Staff
in State News
February 12, 2025
Reading Time: 6 mins read
0
8
SHARES
56
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEMAIL

PENNINGTON GAP—Farmers and landowners are contending with a new pest—the invasive hybrid fire ant that’s marching into fields and pastures in Southwest Virginia.

 

Virginia Cooperative Extension agent Amy Byington in Lee County has received calls from over 20 farmers and landowners reporting hybrid fire ant mounds on their properties. Due to their aggressive nature, the ants pose a threat to people, wildlife and livestock—particularly newborn animals. When their mounds are disturbed, the ants release pheromones that alert the colony to swarm and attack.

 

“You think you’re dealing with one (ant) and being careful, but then they’ll be up your pants in no time,” Byington said.

 

In addition to delivering painful stings, fire ants can chew irrigation tubes and electrical wiring, and sometimes feed on germinating seeds and developing flowers or fruit. Their mounds range from almost flat to 24 inches tall, and can damage agricultural equipment.

 

While southeastern Virginia has long dealt with red imported fire ants, their preference for warmer climates limited their spread. However, the hybridized species—a result of interbreeding between red and black imported fire ants—are more cold-tolerant, adaptable and aggressive, and can fly up to 2 miles to establish new colonies.

 

Already found in Georgia, Alabama, central Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, they were first detected in Lee County in fall 2021. And their range is expanding farther than experts anticipated.

 

“They’re coming to the other counties,” Byington cautioned, noting there have been reports of isolated cases in other parts of Southwest Virginia.

 

Lee County cattlewoman Arabella Cline first encountered a hybrid fire ant mound three years ago when she hit one with her all-terrain vehicle. Since then, she’s treated multiple mounds in her pastures.

 

While Cline’s cattle have remained unharmed, “I think my dog got into some once, because her muzzle was swollen with stings all over.”

 

She now carries insecticide bait on her ATV, treating mounds on sight. Hybrid fire ants are less territorial than their parent species, and multiple colonies can coexist in the same area.

 

“If you have one, you need to look around, because you’ll probably find more.”

 

Cline, a Lee County Farm Bureau member, said “There’s no benefit to having these things around.”

 

Hybrid fire ants spread easily on hay bales, household items, firewood, construction materials, potted plants, plant debris and trailers. For more information on hybrid fire ants, visit bit.ly/3WMm70a. To report hybrid fire ant sightings, or imported fire ants outside of the current quarantine zone, contact your local Extension office.

This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.

Virginian Review Staff

Tags: Fire

Related Posts

State News

Warner, Kaine, Scott Urge EPA to Reinstate Funding for Cancelled Community Resilience Grants

June 18, 2025
State News

Social Security Delivers the Most Popular Baby Names in Virginia for 2024

June 4, 2025
State News

Nearly 8,000 veterans farm in Virginia

May 26, 2025
State News

Thursday, May 1 is Virginia’s Individual Income Tax Filing and Payment Deadline

April 25, 2025
Load More
Next Post
Bubby Entsminger, shown here in a game against Radford (File Photo by Chrsitopher Mentz)

Alleghany falls short in loss to Glenvar

The Virginian Review

Serving Covington, Clifton Forge, Alleghany County and Bath County Since 1914.

Information

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

© 2022 The Virginian Review | All Rights Reserved. | Powered by Ecent Corporation

No Result
View All Result
  • Menu Item
  • __________________
  • Home
  • Editions
  • News
    • Community
    • Government
  • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • Public Notices
    • Public Announcements
  • The Shadow
  • __________________
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Subscribe
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 The Virginian Review | All Rights Reserved. | Powered by Ecent Corporation

Published on February 12, 2025 and Last Updated on February 12, 2025 by Christopher Mentz