A while back there were some postings about a beekeeper who was found to have some fire ants as he came across the California border coming from Texas.  The bees were allowed to proceed to an almond orchard in Kern County.   When the county ag inspectors came to check it out, they found that colonies of fire ants were established between the pallets and the hives.  The pallets had an unusual construction that allowed a space for the ants to colonize.  The beekeeper was allowed to remove frames from the top boxes.  The hives and pallets were sprayed and then fumigated with phostoxin.  
 
Subsequent inspections of the orchard have found 17 established colonies of imported fire ant.  The site has been treated with Lorsban and will be treated with a bait.  (BTW, the U.S. EPA must register all pesticides, even in an emergency situation like this.  California also has a parallel registration process.)  It is troubling that in spite of treatment, numerous colonies were established.  The thought is that the ants were disturbed too much and some escaped.  These colonies have multiple queens.
 
Imported fire ants are nasty buggers and nobody should want them established in their bee yards.  California certainly does not want them to become established in the state.  If you move bees on pallets from fire ant infested areas, please take care not to bring the ants along. 
 
Bob Roach