U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Fire Ant Test Kit
[Running time: ~ 1:46]

Welcome to Focus on Ag Research from the Agricultural Research Service or ARS. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.

Since the red imported fire ant invaded the United States in the 1930s, researchers have looked for ways to control it, and keep it from spreading.

The ant's painful sting is loaded with venom, which is life-threatening to some people. In addition, control efforts and damage caused by the ant costs Americans billions of dollars annually.

Recently, ARS scientists in Florida along with their colleagues from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service developed a new fire ant test. 

Used at inspection stations, the test will help limit the spread of fire ants from state to state. Currently, identifying ants on trucks takes hours or even days. The new test is easy to use and identifies red imported fire ants in just ten minutes.

Though the test was mainly developed for use at truck inspection stops, it may also have use at locations where cargo is imported or exported.

To learn more about this research, visit AgResearch magazine at http://www.agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov. 

That's our podcast for today. Thanks for listening.