Red fire ants, a dreaded pest, have invaded Europe

Last week, international experts warned that invasive species are costing the world economy almost half-a-trillion dollars annually . Today, researchers confirmed that one of the most fearsome invaders—the red fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta ), a pest native to South America that packs a painful sting and infests houses and crops—has taken hold in Italy. It is the first European detection of colonies, which are known to drive out native ants and other wildlife and damage electrical equipment. “The findings are an important call for immediate action,” says Cleo Bertelsmeier, an expert in invasive insects at the University of Lausanne. “Otherwise, it will be too late.” Bernard Kaufmann, an invasion ecologist at Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, adds: “Fire ants would be devastating if released in continental Europe and even more all around the Mediterranean Sea. The cost for human economies and well-being would be enormous.” Neither was involved in the new research. A genetic analysis of the Italian ants suggests they likely came from either China or the United States. In the U.S., the species causes an estimated $6 billion in damage each year. The insects spread internationally via shipping, especially of plants and soil. Red fire ants have been detected in imported products in Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands, but not as wild colonies. After seeing photos of creatures suspected to be red fire ants, researchers from t...
Source: ScienceNOW - Category: Science Source Type: news