Fire Ants have been discovered in the Cypress Glen area of the community.
They can be inspected and eradicated free of charge for the homeowners.
We are going have Sofia Alcaine come through that area and give a cursory inspection to identify any other lots that may be getting these ant infestations.
From Sofia Alcaine…
My name is Sofia Alcaine, and I work for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. I am reaching out to you regarding the presence of red invasive fire ants (IFA) in your neighborhood association. Recently, I received a report from a citizen who has fire ants on their property in one of the newer developments of this community association. I stopped by to treat this property for fire ants, and noticed many more mounds in the neighborhood, some being in vacant lots. I wanted to bring this to your attention and let you know that you all have fire ants spreading throughout your neighborhood. It is important to stay on top of this issue before they spread more, as they are a highly invasive insect. Attached is a packet that contains more information about IFA and their spread through Virginia and the South.
We have a form that citizens can fill out to inform us if they have an invasive species (including invasive fire ants) on their property. With the permission of a homeowner/resident, we can respond to each request and treat these pests free of charge. The link to the form is here: Report-A-Pest form for VDACS
If you could, please, share this information with the residents of HCA, and include this link to the form that citizens can fill out if they have fire ants on their property. Some residents may have noticed fire ants on their property but are unaware of this service that we can provide to treat the mounds, so getting the word out to your residents will be of great help. The more residents that are aware of the fire ants, the easier it will be for us to effectively treat and mitigate the presence of fire ants in this HOA.
As for the vacant lots, perhaps we can work out a way for us to come treat the fire ant mounds so they do not become more of a problem and spread throughout more of the neighborhoods. I would be happy to discuss a path forward for treatment of these empty lots. I am available by call, email, or text, so if you would like to discuss next steps, please feel free to reach out. Likewise, if you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Sofia Alcaine
Plant Protection Inspector
Office of Plant Industry Services
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Telephone: (804) 461-0818
Email: sofia.alcaine@vdacs.virginia.gov
(continuing…)
[ For those in Cypress Glen, please share with your neighbors. ]
Samuel King, MBA, CMCA, AMS
Community Manager
ACS West, Inc. AAMC
1904 Byrd Ave, Suite 100
Richmond, VA 23230
804-282-7451
samk@acswest.org