Europe is faced with an invasion of dangerous ants: computers and cars are affected

Colonies of red fire ants have been discovered in Italy and could spread throughout Europe, scientists are sounding the alarm. Researchers have identified 88 nests of destructive invasive non-native species near Syracuse in Sicily.

An invasive, non-native ant species has become established in Italy and could quickly spread across Europe as far as the UK due to global warming, a study warns.

According to The Guardian, the red fire ant Solenopsis invicta has a powerful sting, damages crops and can attack electrical equipment, including cars and computers.

Considered one of the most destructive invasive species, the ant can quickly form “supercolonies” with multiple queens. Ant colonies prey on invertebrates, larger vertebrates, and plants, destroying native plants and outcompeting native ants, insects, and herbivores for food.

The red fire ant is considered the fifth most costly invasive species in the world, spreading through human trafficking from its native South America to Mexico, the Caribbean, Australia and the United States, where it causes $6 billion in damage annually.

Researchers discovered 88 nests of red fire ants in an area of ​​5 hectares near the city of Syracuse, in Sicily (Italy). According to genetic analysis conducted in a study published in the journal Current Biology, the invasive colonies may have arrived from China or the United States.

Roger Vila, principal investigator at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology’s Butterfly Diversity and Evolution Laboratory, who led the study, says: “Coordinated early detection and rapid response efforts across the region are essential to successfully address this emerging threat before it spreads out of control.”

The charity Buglife said invasive ant species are easily spread when plants are imported into the UK in soil and called on the government to ban soil imports.

The EU banned soil exports from the UK, but London did not retaliate by stopping imports, mainly through the horticultural trade.

David Smith of Buglife warns: “This is an open door for non-native species that live in the soil. There is widespread concern about these non-native invasive ant species, of which this one is one of the few that are on the cusp of entering Europe. We can do something to stop them from coming, but once an invasive ant species gets here, it will be very difficult to eradicate it. Ants are notorious for their ability to spread quickly.”

In Europe, the red fire ant has previously been found in imported foods in Spain, Finland and the Netherlands, but its occurrence in the wild on the continent has never previously been confirmed.

While the EU updated its list of “species of concern” to include the red fire ant, the British government has not updated its list since Brexit, despite calls from experts concerned about new invasive species.

David Smith added: “We are increasingly frustrated by the Government’s delays in implementing biosecurity measures.”

Australia is spending A$400 million (£205 million) to eradicate the ants, but its government has been criticized for failing to act decisively enough to eradicate the species. New Zealand is the only country to have successfully eradicated the red fire ant after it arrived in the country in 2001.

The red fire ant is a heat-loving species, but researchers have concluded that it can become established in about 7% of Europe.

In today’s climate, half of Europe’s urban areas would be climatically suitable for this, including major cities such as London, Paris, Rome and Barcelona. With global warming, the continent will become much more suitable for this species and will help its spread throughout Europe.

Mediterranean coastal cities are most suitable for the ant, and their seaports could facilitate its spread, writes The Guardian.

Mattia Menchetti, lead author of the study, said: “The public could play a key role in detecting S invicta, given that they are often found in cities and surrounding areas. This ant can be identified by its painful bites and characteristic mounds at the nest sites, although expert confirmation is required.”

The Sicilian colonies are located in an estuary and natural park in the suburbs of Syracuse. Researchers believe that the flying queen ants, aided by the wind, arrived there from the northwest port of Syracuse. The research team recommended continued monitoring of the port.