Invasive Red Fire Ant Colonies, Found in Europe For the First Time.
According to a new study, red fire ants
have been found in Europe for the first time. .
CNN reports that the highly invasive species,
which has the scientific name Solenopsis invicta,
is natively found in South America.
The species have now spread throughout the world,
from the United States, all the way to China
and Australia, over the last century.
The aggressive insects possess
a painful sting, which can irritate
the skin and trigger allergic reactions.
The invasive species can also
cause damage to both crops
and local ecosystems.
According to researchers, 88 red fire ant
nests have been identified near
the city of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy.
S. invicta is one of
the worst invasive species.
It can spread alarmingly quickly, Mattia Menchetti, Lead study author and researcher at
the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, via CNN.
Finding this species in Italy
was a big surprise, but we
knew this day would come, Mattia Menchetti, Lead study author and researcher at
the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, via CNN.
According to the study's authors, while red fire ants were
previously discovered in imported products, this is the first
time colonies of the invasive species have been identified.
According to the study's authors, while red fire ants were
previously discovered in imported products, this is the first
time colonies of the invasive species have been identified.
The team's findings were published in
the scientific journal 'Current Biology.'.
Last week, a United Nations-backed report warned that
invasive species were driving both plant and animal
extinctions, while also threatening global food security.