Task force study's fire ant infestation

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A legislative task force that's looking for ways to get rid of fire ants says the sometimes deadly ant appears to be in Oklahoma to stay.

Officials believe the ants were carried into the state in bales of hay brought from Texas, and say the pests have established themselves in eight southern Oklahoma counties.

State Representative James Dunegan of Calera says he's convinced there are chemicals to control the fire ants. Dunegan has visited a research center in Florida and says he believes biological control will work.

Biological control includes mass production of flies that can kill fire ants and introducing a pathogen into the fire ant population.