COURTESY HAWAII DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
Little fire ant
Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.
Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.
The state is handling the electric ant (little fire ant) invasion very irresponsibly. You reported that electric ants have been detected in the state since 1999, and yet the state still hasn’t done anything about it (“Little fire ant infestations spread across Oahu,” Star- Advertiser, Nov 6). You also reported that the only organizations handling this problem are underfunded and understaffed. They don’t have the money or employees to research ways to handle this and kill off colonies.
It is going to be hard to actually make progress when there is no money and no one to take the steps toward solving this problem. The ants have proven to be a threat to residents and native plants. It has gotten so bad that communities have taken matters into their own hands.
Residents have made efforts to try to educate people in the community and combat this invasion. The state needs to understand the importance of getting rid of these ants, and act on it.
Sophia MacDonald
Waikiki
EXPRESS YOURSELF
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.
>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite #7-500 Honolulu, HI 96813
>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter