Imported Fire Ant Quarantine Expanded to Iredell County

RALEIGH — State officials have expanded North Carolina’s imported fire ant quarantine to include all of Davie, Forsyth, and Iredell counties.

The expanded quarantine now covers portions or all of 81 counties statewide and is part of ongoing efforts to monitor the spread of the invasive pest and limit its movement into non-infested areas. Under the quarantine, residents and businesses in the affected counties must obtain a permit before moving certain materials into or through non-quarantined areas.

Items requiring inspection and certification include nursery stock, sod, soil, hay and straw, logs or pulpwood with soil attached, and soil-moving equipment such as construction machinery. The movement of any other materials that could spread imported fire ants is also prohibited without proper approval.

State agriculture officials say failure to obtain required inspections and certifications could result in stop-sale orders or the rejection or destruction of regulated items.

The imported fire ant was first identified in North Carolina in 1957 and has since spread to agricultural, residential, and natural areas across much of the state. Officials say the ants pose risks to humans, livestock, and wildlife due to their aggressive behavior and painful stings, making continued containment efforts critical.