Mainland experts confirm red fire ant cases
Saturday, January 29, 2005
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (AFCD) received today (January 29) a verbal reply from experts in the mainland confirming that the specimen of ants that had been submitted for their examination was Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA).
In today's operation, the department found mounds of RIFA in two Kowloon locations.
Upon referral from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the department staff inspected the LCSD's tree banks at the West Kowloon Cultural District area and a former bus terminal in Tai Kok Tsui. The two locations were found to have 40 and two mounds respectively.
Pest control operations at the sites would be carried out promptly, said an AFCD spokesman.
The department today destroyed an additional of 15 mounds found at the Sheung Yue River planting site and four mounds within the Wetland Park.
The total number of mounds found so far in various reported sites amount to 187.
Various government departments and agencies will continue to inspect vegetation areas under their management to enable the Administration to draw a full picture on the extent of possible spread of RIFA.
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