They don't bite, but they are a big nuisance. How can we get rid of them?
The bad news is that there's really nothing to be done about these pesky bugs. The good news is that they should be gone soon.
Entomologist Neil Reimer, the ant expert at the state Department of Agriculture's Plant Quarantine Station, was willing to take a guess at what's bugging you, even without having a specimen in hand.
Many ants, male and female, produce "this wing form," he said. "Some go in mating flights. They'll meet in swarms and mate in the air. Then the queens will land and start a nest. Others may mate in the nest, then go out on a flight." Most are attracted to lights.
Reimer says certain species come out at certain times of the year - just as termites usually come out in May and June - but it could happen any time of the year. "Most ants tend to come out September/October. And, like termites, they like it when it's still and muggy."
If the ant nests are in your house, "then you can deal with that," Reimer said. Unfortunately, most times they're outdoors.
But take heart. In Hawaii, "There are a few species that will sting and some will bite, but none are really dangerous."
If you want to know exactly what you have, call the state Health Department's vector control section at 831-6767. Inspectors will make an on-site inspection or ask you for a specimen.
No, it isn't, according to city officials. In the Aug. 30 Star-Bulletin, Managing Director Bob Fishman said the city is in no position to determine whether the AJA (Americans of Japanese Ancestry) league should be forced to accept non-Japanese players.
"The city's role is to maximize use of the parks and make sure different groups don't bump heads (on scheduling)," he said.
The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission said it hadn't received any complaints in this area, while attorney David Schutter said the AJA league's decision may be discrimination, but it's not necessarily against the law.
"There's nothing wrong with forming leagues for people of a specific ancestry, as long as the facilities are available equally to other such groups," he said.
The controversy stems from an attempt by former University of Hawaii baseball player Bill Blanchette, who is of French-Canadian ancestry, to play in the amateur league. Blanchette argued that public parks should not be used for racially exclusive activities, but said he wouldn't take the matter to court.
"I was in a traffic accident with a tour bus on July 23, at 8:55 a.m., on the Likelike Highway offramp, Ewa bound, to the H-1 freeway. A man who was driving an off-blue vehicle, I think it was a pickup truck, stopped to help and comforted me while I was trapped inside. He gave me a card with his name and number. I'm embarrassed to say that I lost his card. I not only would like to ask his help as a witness but also to thank him for his comfort. If you are that person, please call me at 533-0041. Thank you."