Small Ants, Big Impacts

Small Ants, Big Impacts: Managing Invasive Ant Species in North America

Invasive ants are spreading into new regions, disrupting ecosystems, impacting agriculture, and creating challenges for land managers and communities. From aggressive supercolonies to painful stings, these small invaders can have outsized ecological and economic consequences.

Join NAISMA for a webinar exploring the impacts and management of several high priority invasive ant species. Brooke Mahnken (Maui Invasive Species Committee) will share insights from Hawai‘i’s ongoing efforts to detect and manage little fire ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) on Maui. Christina Boser (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will discuss the ecology, spread, and management of Argentine ants (Linepithema humile), drawing on her experience with eradication and control efforts in sensitive island ecosystems in California. Dr. Christopher Hayes (North Carolina State University) will highlight the emerging threat posed by Asian needle ants (Brachyponera chinensis), including their impacts on native ecosystems and human health.

Together, these presentations will provide an overview of the biology, impacts, and management strategies associated with invasive ants, along with practical lessons for early detection and response. Participants will gain a better understanding of how these species spread and what land managers can do to help reduce their impacts.

Learn more and register: https://naisma.org/event/webinar-small-ants-big-impacts-managing-invasive-ant-species-in-north-america/