Homeowners Urged To Check For Fire Ants
he Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] is “urging all homeowners to inform their landscape gardeners and groundskeepers about how to identify and report red imported fire ants [RIFA] during any garden or property maintenance.”
A Government spokesperson said, “Recent detections in Hamilton Parish [Nov 2025] and at the Hamilton cargo dock [Dec 2025] confirm the first known presence of these invasive ants in Bermuda. Early detection remains our strongest tool to prevent their spread, the risk of which will increase in the hotter months when they are likely to reproduce and spread.
“A dedicated information page featuring guidance and videos in Portuguese and Tagalog is available at: www.gov.bm/fire-ants
“What Homeowners & Landscapers Should Look For
- Small loose soil piles or scattered mini‑mounds [early colonies].
- Larger dome‑shaped mounds [up to 18 inches] without visible entry holes.
- Reddish‑brown ants up to 6 mm long, with workers of different sizes.
- Unexpected painful ants during mowing or gardening.
“Do not disturb any suspected mound, as fire ants become aggressive when threatened.
“How You Can Help Prevent Spread
- Inspect lawns, garden beds, compost piles, potted plants, and sunny open areas using the information provided in the link above.
- Check vehicles, trailers, containers, and landscaping equipment before moving between properties.
- Report all suspected sightings immediately, especially when stings occur unexpectedly.
“Reporting
“Email: fireants@gov.bm. Please include photos and location/GPS coordinates whenever possible.”
Minister of Public Works and Environment Jaché Adams stresses: “Early detection is critical. I urge the public—through their landscape gardeners—to report any possible sightings to help prevent these ants from becoming established in Bermuda.”
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Category: All, Environment, News
Here we have an opportunity for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to use technology and to collaborate with the Department of Labour to have mandatory awareness classes – arent all landscapers on a bayional register, or, pay payroll tax, have licenced trucks etc?
Technology – an app should have been created for the public to download for reporting purposes, complete with a GPS button for automatic location purposes.
Mandatory awareness – EVERY landscaping business should have been pulled in to have classes organized in English and Portuguese, the predominant languages of landscapers.
Nearly EVERY landscaper uses Marsh Folly to dispose of foliage waste – how hard is it to identify landscapers and issue them with a FIRE ANT card – a laminated illustration to bd carried in each truck in English and Portuguese?
Come on Bermuda Government! Start using technology to assist instead of 1st Gen solutions to what could become a natural disaster of epic proportion.