Media Release - For Immediate Release

June 14 2010

HOT TOPIC - FIRE ANTS

Saint Mary’s Masters student Susan Horton has just returned from the University of Maine where she has been studying European Fire Ants with the top researchers on the continent. She has brought back with her new and exciting ideas about how they might be controlled.

With the relatively mild winter, she said the ants emerged earlier than last year and may be more widespread than previously believed. She is in the throes of organizing a public survey on their distribution. In Halifax specifically, she is intrigued that the ants are often found on alternating city blocks. Early indications are that colonies may have been started by infested plant or soil material being brought in.

Ms. Horton has been studying fire ants since 1992 when her young son got stung by one.

She is available to talk to the media. She is best contacted through her email Susan.Horton@smu.ca or susanmhorton@gmail.com

Note: She will be participating in a public presentation with HRM official on Wednesday June 16 at 20 Boathouse Lane, off of Crichton Avenue, Dartmouth. The talk will begin at 6 PM.

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For More Information:

Steve Proctor
External Affairs
Saint Mary's University
(902) 420.5513
E-mail: steve.proctor@smu.ca
www.smu.ca

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