Post office squashes ant program
Friday, Aug. 24, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.
Don't mail the ants.
Officials at the Nevada State Division of Agriculture in recent weeks have encouraged residents who find fire ants to trap them, tape them to a post card and mail them to the department.
The agriculture department launched the campaign to alert residents to the potential hazards of the tiny red menaces after several colonies of the ants -- which are prevalent in the Southeast and pack a painful bite -- began moving into the Las Vegas Valley in 1998.
This time, however, it's the division of agriculture that got stung.
U.S. Postal Service officials on Thursday said that it's illegal to send anything -- including fire ants -- that is taped to a business reply card.
Vic Fenimore, spokesman for the postal service's district office in Las Vegas, said the agriculture department must now recall and destroy the cards, which include information about the insects and provide instructions for residents who find "suspicious ants."
Jeff Knight, state entomologist and supervisor of the agriculture department's fire ant program, said the postcards were his idea, and that he received permission in 1999 from postal employees in Reno and Las Vegas.
Fenimore said he didn't know about the agriculture department's post card campaign until he received a call from the Las Vegas Sun. An investigation revealed that only the design of the reply card was approved in 1999, not an item that instructs people to tape the ant samples to the card, Fenimore said.
"It is illegal on a card-sized piece to attach anything, especially a clinical specimen," Fenimore said. "These cards should never have gotten into circulation."
A fire ants' sting feels similar to being burned with a match, and the toxin leaves a raised, red sore on the skin. When the ants are ready to attack they alert other fire ants by distributing a chemical signal, then fight as a group. The painful stings can lead to swelling, itchy skin and, in some cases, an allergic reaction.
Researchers believe fire ants were introduced to the United States in the late 1930s, when the insects hitched a ride on a ship from South America. Since then, ant colonies have been steadily spreading throughout North America, often through shipments of plants to commercial nurseries. The ants destroy crops, damage sidewalks and roadways and invade homes.
The postcards recommend people use a jar baited with peanut butter or mint jelly to catch the ants. People should don protective gloves before covering the jar and freezing it overnight, according to the card.
"Attach a sample to this postcard with transparent tape and mail it," the instructions conclude. The card also warns that collecting fire ants is a potentially risky activity, and that the agriculture department isn't responsible for injuries incurred while capturing the ants.
The most crucial step in dealing with a sharp increase in the fire ant population involves identification, Knight said.
Ants native to the area -- which would counteract the invading species -- can't be eliminated along with the fire ants, Knight said.
The agriculture department's offices in Reno and Las Vegas get anywhere from a dozen to 30 calls a week from residents who think they've found fire ants, Knight said.
"We don't have the manpower to send someone out every time the phone rings," Knight said. "The postcards make it easy for people to get the specimens to us."
For the past two years the department has received about a postcard per week, he said. There has been no instance of a postcard arriving with a live ant attached, Knight said.
Tom Smigel, regional manager for the agriculture department's Las Vegas office, said he had hoped the conflict with the post office could be resolved without recalling the postcards.
Smigel said an e-mail message about the recall will be distributed to libraries and state offices, which have the cards.
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Corrections officer with Metro killed in U.S. 95 crash
- System fails to catch contractor’s family tie with county
- The pull of a drug, a push to the brink
- Where to watch UFC 106
- Findlay guard Joseph scores 33, talks about UNLV
- UNLV and Southern Illinois will be guarded tonight
- Bishop Gorman takes Sunset Region title in win over Cimarron
- Basic’s magical season continues with trip to state semifinals
- Reid clears major health care hurdle, daunting weeks ahead
- Was there an ulterior motive in parking the stripper-mobile?
Blogs
Culture and Entertainment
UFC 106 walk-in music: Griffin changes his tune, secures win over Ortiz
The Kats Report
For props, Lewis Black needs only his manic delivery and torrid material (7 Comments)
Elsewhere
Sands China raises $2.5 billion in Hong Kong IPO (2 Comments)
Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR? (4 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: And then there were four
Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple
- Live chat
- Tuesday, noon PST
- Chat with Krista Creelman
- Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question
Calendar »
- 22 Sun
- 23 Mon
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
-
The Four Tops at The Orleans Showroom
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
The Chase at Downtown Cocktail Room
Downtown Cocktail Room | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Lady Gaga album release party at Revolution Lounge
Beatles Revolution Lounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Food drive at Christian Audigier
Christian Audigier The Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Above & Beyond at Moon
Moon Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












