Hawaii Ant Lab

Hawaii Ant Lab Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Hawaii Ant Lab, Nonprofit Organization, 875 Komohana Street, Hilo, HI.

The Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, a program of the University of Hawai‘i Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, is dedicated to increasing knowledge about invasive ant biology, management, and eradication.

Want to make a difference in communities across Oʻahu? Interested in protecting Hawaiʻi from harmful invasive ants? Do y...
06/03/2026

Want to make a difference in communities across Oʻahu? Interested in protecting Hawaiʻi from harmful invasive ants? Do you have a strong drive to learn new skills such as GIS, invasive species control and public relations that will further your career in conservation? Apply to become a full-time Field Technician with the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab!

As a Field Technician, your role will be to conduct field surveys for invasive ants, identify ant specimens, and assist with outreach efforts advising residents on preventing and controlling little fire ants. Applicants should have excellent communication skills, be organized, and be able to work independently or as part of a team.

Join our dedicated team and make a real impact helping protect Oʻahuʻs homes, farms, beaches, and forests from these stinging invaders.

Apply today! Go to ww.rcuh.com, click on "Job Postings," and search for job posting # 226323. The application closing date is 06/08/2026.

Happy Friday! 🐜
05/30/2026

Happy Friday! 🐜

05/28/2026

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?… ANT BUSTERS! 
WE ARE HIRING!

Want to make a difference in communities across Oʻahu? Interested in protecting Hawaiʻi from harmful invasive ants? Ready to learn valuable skills in GIS, invasive species control, field surveying, and public outreach that will further your career in conservation?

Join the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab’s Antbusters team as a full-time temporary Field Technician with the likelihood of moving into a permanent position!

Your role will be to:
- Conduct field surveys
- Identify ant specimens
- Assist with outreach efforts, advising residents on preventing and controlling little fire ants

Applicants should have excellent communication skills, be organized, and be able to operate independently or as part of a team.

HAL is looking to immediately fill TWO Field Technician positions to help with LFA control efforts on residential properties and ports of entry across Oʻahu.

For more information about applying for this position, reach out to our Oʻahu Coordinator:
[email protected]
(808) 824-1366

05/27/2026

Fed up with Little Fire Ants (LFA) on your property?

Join us for our next FREE LFA Management Clinic on Thursday, May 28th from 8:30-10:30 AM, held on Zoom.

What you will learn:

- How to identify LFA
- How to test your property for LFA
- Proven treatment strategies
- How to mix up and apply gel bait
- How to prevent reinfestation and spread
- Common mistakes that reduce treatment success

Can’t make it? Don’t worry! We hold these virtual meetings once a month.

Visit our website to register: www.littlefireants.com/take-a-class

Hehe... Not Hehe... LFA point of view🐜
05/15/2026

Hehe... Not Hehe... LFA point of view🐜

04/28/2026

Fed up with Little Fire Ants (LFA) on your property?

Join us for our next FREE LFA Management Clinic on Thursday, April 30th from 4-6 PM, held on Zoom.

What you will learn:

- How to identify LFA
- How to test your property for LFA
- Proven treatment strategies
- How to mix up and apply gel bait
- How to prevent reinfestation and spread
- Common mistakes that reduce treatment success

Can’t make it? Don’t worry! We hold these virtual meetings once a month.

Visit our website to register: www.littlefireants.com/take-a-class

LFA workers might admire their queens, however queens make LFA colonies much harder to control.Unlike most ant species, ...
04/24/2026

LFA workers might admire their queens, however queens make LFA colonies much harder to control.

Unlike most ant species, LFA colonies have multiple queens, up to 16 per individual colony. If one queen dies, the other queens keep the colony alive. LFA queens don’t rely on flight; instead, they mainly spread by “budding”. A queen leaves with a few workers, starts a new nest nearby, and stays connected to the original colony, forming massive super-colonies covering large areas. These factors make LFA a successful invader and difficult to control.
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FIGHT NIGHT: WHO WILL DOMINATE?In the left corner, the sugar loving contender: “Black Ant”In the right corner: the sting...
04/19/2026

FIGHT NIGHT: WHO WILL DOMINATE?

In the left corner, the sugar loving contender: “Black Ant”

In the right corner: the stinging invader: Little Fire Ant

It might look a fair fight, but don’t be fooled.

Little fire ants (LFA) aren’t aggressive toward people, but when it comes to other ants, it’s a whole different story. These tiny invaders are aggressive competitors. In Hawaii, they will attack all other ant species, tearing them apart limb by limb, and overwhelm them with sheer numbers.

A common misconception is that the “black ant”, often referring to the white footed ant, can compete LFA. While white footed ant populations can reach identities, once LFA are introduced, the outcome changes overtime. LFA don’t just compete, they dominate!

LFA colonies can blanket an area from the ground to the top of trees, monopolizing food and resources, and pushing out all other ant species.

When the ants start dancing the tango… you know what time it is.At the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, we’re fighting little fire ants ...
04/09/2026

When the ants start dancing the tango… you know what time it is.
At the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab, we’re fighting little fire ants (LFA) with a different kind of Tango.
Tango™ contains (S)-methoprene, an insect growth regulator that stops LFA from developing and reproducing. It prevents larvae from becoming adults and reduces egg production by queens, leading to a gradual decline of the colony over time.
Tango™ is one of two products used in the Hawaiʻi Ant Lab (HAL) gel bait, which was specifically developed to control LFA.
LFA live in connected colonies with multiple queens and can nest both on the ground and in trees. Most ant baits are granular and only work on the ground—so ants in trees can survive and spread back.
The HAL gel bait solves this problem by sticking to leaves and branches, allowing treatment in vegetation as well.
The gel is made from:
• Peanut butter and vegetable oil (to attract ants)
• Water and a thickener (like xanthan gum)
• An active ingredient (Tango™ or Advion®)
Learn how to mix and apply it at: www.littlefireants.com

Did you know? A little fire ant (LFA) infestation can go unnoticed for YEARS! 🐜These ants are tiny, only about 1.5 mm lo...
03/27/2026

Did you know? A little fire ant (LFA) infestation can go unnoticed for YEARS!

🐜These ants are tiny, only about 1.5 mm long, and don’t build obvious mounds. In fact, an entire colony can fit inside a mac nut shell!

🌱It can start with something as simple as bringing home an infested plant. At first, the colony may stay hidden in vegetation and slowly build. You might not notice them until the infestation is well established, and by then, they may already be inside your home.

🔎Because they’re so easy to miss, infestations often spread across multiple properties before anyone realizes they’re there. And the longer they go undetected, the harder they are to control.

Address

875 Komohana Street
Hilo, HI
96720

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+18083155656

Website

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