By Ramsay H.C.R. No. 259 76R13716 JHS-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Each year, fire ants cost Texans some $300 million, 1-2 and it is important for the citizens of this state to be aware of 1-3 the dangers and damage associated with these insects; and 1-4 WHEREAS, It is believed that these creatures originated in 1-5 South America and arrived in Mobile, Alabama, on ships in the 1-6 1930s; the pests quickly spread, reaching Texas in the 1950s, and 1-7 today the infestation affects some 50 million acres in the eastern 1-8 two-thirds of our state; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Both urban and rural areas suffer the effects of 1-10 fire ants, as homeowners attempt to control the damage in their 1-11 lawns and gardens, and farmers and ranchers seek to protect seeds 1-12 and young plants from being fed on by the ants, while also trying 1-13 to prevent the costly destruction of electrical and irrigation 1-14 systems that can be attributed to these pests; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Fire ants cause an estimated $67 million in damage 1-16 annually to the state's beef cattle industry alone; once calves and 1-17 other animals are attacked, veterinary expenses, decreased animal 1-18 quality, and even blindness and death may result in some cases; 1-19 these insects also alter the ecological balance of our state by 1-20 damaging plants and reducing food sources for native ant species 1-21 and other insects; and 1-22 WHEREAS, To combat this problem, the 75th Texas Legislature 1-23 funded the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan, 1-24 which calls for a coordinated effort among state agencies to 2-1 address the fire ant problem through educational and regulatory 2-2 programs and research; the Agricultural Extension Service, the 2-3 Department of Agriculture, and the Parks and Wildlife Department 2-4 have teamed up with scientists from The University of Texas at 2-5 Austin, Texas A&M University, and Texas Tech University to develop 2-6 an environmentally sound, cost-effective fire ant management 2-7 program, and the results of this initiative have been positive to 2-8 date; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Urban fire ant management is best undertaken on a 2-10 community-wide basis, with neighbors working together to help 2-11 reduce reinvasion of treated areas; late summer through early fall 2-12 is the ideal time of year to initiate fire ant controls, using 2-13 least-toxic, slow-acting, bait-formulated products to treat 2-14 infested areas, thus reducing overuse of more toxic contact 2-15 insecticides on individual ant mounds; and 2-16 WHEREAS, Anyone who has felt the painful sting of a fire ant 2-17 or witnessed the devastation caused by these relentless pests can 2-18 understand the need for the fire ant management plan, and it is in 2-19 the state's best interest to continue to promote greater awareness 2-20 of the fire ant issue among all residents of this state; now, 2-21 therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-23 hereby forevermore declare the second week of September Fire Ant 2-24 Awareness Week in Texas and encourage the residents of the Lone 2-25 Star State to educate themselves on the dangers of fire ants and 2-26 the preventive measures available to combat this insect menace.