Source: USDA APHIS, 10/14/21

Expansion of Quarantine Areas for the Imported Fire Ant (Solenopis invicta Buren, S. richteri Forel, and hybrids of these species) in North Carolina and Tennessee


To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials
Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a Federal Order that expands the existing imported fire ant (IFA) quarantine areas in North Carolina and Tennessee. APHIS is taking this action to prevent the interstate spread of IFA.

The following list describes the action in this Federal Order:
• North Carolina: Extends the IFA quarantine area to the entire county for Alamance, Burke, Guilford, Jackson, and McDowell Counties.
• Tennessee: Extends the IFA quarantine area to the entire county for Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Grainger, Henry, Lauderdale, Montgomery, Putnam, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, and Weakley Counties.

APHIS is taking these actions based upon verification from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Consumer and Industry Services that IFA is present and established in the areas listed.

For additional information on the Federal IFA regulatory program, please contact the IFA National Policy Manager, Herbert Bolton, at (301) 851-3594 or herbert.bolton@usda.gov.