Invasive Red Fire Ants From Soil Imports Establish 88 Colonies in Italy with Global Warming Aggravating Spread

A recent study reveals that invasive red fire ants, which were brought into Sicily, Italy via soil imports, have already formed 88 colonies there and that the species is expanding its range due to global warming.

Invasive Red Fire Ants in Sicily, Italy

A study warns that an invasive non-native fire ant species has established itself in a city in Italy and could quickly move through Europe to the UK due to climate change.

The red fire ant can infest electrical devices like cars and computers and possesses a potent sting that can harm crops.

The ant, which is one of the invasive species that cause the most damage, can quickly establish "super colonies" with numerous queens. Colonies destroy native flora and outcompete native ants, insects, and herbivores for food by preying on invertebrates, bigger vertebrates, and plants.

The red fire ant, which originated in South America, is the fifth most expensive invasive species in the world. It spreads via human trafficking into Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia, and the US, where it is projected to cause $6 billion in damages annually.

Near Syracuse, Sicily, Italy, researchers found 88 red fire ant colonies spread over 5 hectares. Genetic investigations suggest that the invading colonies may have originated in either China or the US.

In order to effectively manage this new threat, before it spreads uncontrollably, Roger Vila, the study's principal investigator at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology's Butterfly Diversity and Evolution Lab, stated that unified efforts for early detection and swift action in the region are essential.

Introduction Via Soil Imports

Invasive ant species are easily transmitted when plants and soil are brought into Britain, according to the nonprofit organization Buglife, which is urging the government to outlaw soil imports.

While the EU has outlawed the export of soil from the UK, the UK has not reciprocated by taking steps to halt imports, which primarily come through the horticulture sector.

It is a portal that is wide open for non-native species that live in the soil, according to David Smith of Buglife. This is one of a few non-native invasive ant species that are on the verge of invading Europe, and there is significant concern about them.

Some steps may be taken to prevent these from coming, but once an invasive ant species is present, it will be exceedingly challenging to get rid of it. Ants have a reputation for spreading swiftly.

The ant species has previously been discovered in imported goods in Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands, but there has never been proof of its emergence in the wild on the continent.

Despite requests from scientists worried about new invasive species, the British government has not updated its "species of concern" list since Brexit. In contrast, the EU has updated its list to include the red fire ant.

Smith noted that they are growing more and more impatient with the government's holdups in implementing biosecurity measures.

Also Read: Meranoplus Bicolor: New Ant Specie in the Philippines Discovered in Mikey Bustos' Backyard 

Global Warming and Expanding Territory

The red fire ant is a species that thrives in high temperatures but the researchers concluded that it might colonize about 7% of Europe, attrtibuting to the increasing temperatures.

In the current climate, half of Europe's urban areas, including major cities like London, Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, would be climatically suited for it. The continent will become much more suited to the species as a result of global warming, facilitating its expansion throughout Europe.

The ant is most at home in Mediterranean coastal cities, and those cities' seaports might help it spread.

Given that red fire ants are regularly discovered in metropolitan and surrounding areas, the study's principal author, Mattia Menchetti, suggested that the general people could play a significant role in its discovery. Although expert confirmation is required, it is possible to identify this ant due to its severe stings and the distinctive mounds of its nests.

The invasive colonies are situated in a park and estuary in a Syracuse suburb in Sicily. According to researchers, flying queen ants made their way there from Syracuse's harbor in the northwest. The team has advised additional port monitoring.

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