California Ag Officials Use Spam To Keep Big-Headed African Ants From Spreading North
COSTA MESA, Orange County (CBS/AP) -- California agriculture officials are on the hunt for an invasive species of ant that's been spotted in an Southern California yard -- and they'll use Spam as bait.
In an effort to contain Pheidole megacephala, one of several big-headed ant species, 1,570 bait stations will be set up Monday in seven Orange County cities.
The ants love the fatty, oily food.
An entomologist spotted a colony last month in a Costa Mesa yard while visiting a friend and agriculture officials have been trying to determine if there are other colonies.
"I knew the state and the county would get in an uproar as soon as I let them know," entomologist Gordon C. Snelling told the Orange County Register. "It was one of those sheer dumb luck things."
The species is native to Africa and has a huge head. It's the first documented sighting of this species in California, authorities said.
If it spreads in California it could threaten the state's agriculture.
The ants aren't dangerous to humans.
Officials will try to get the OK from property owners before placing the bait stations in front yards.
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