The red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, native to South America, has made its debut in Europe, particularly in Sicily. In a post that will be published today (September 11) in the journal Current Biology, a group of ant experts confirm that the types has actually made its method to Sicily– the ants very first official sighting in Europe. The ants could quickly spread all over the continent, the researchers warn, which might cause significant ecological, health, and economic issues in Italy and beyond.
” There are a huge number of alien ant types currently developing in Europe, and the lack of this types was kind of a relief,” states Menchetti. The professionals would then confirm to validate that its the right ant types– an essential step since many European ants make similar-looking nests.
The red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, native to South America, has made its debut in Europe, specifically in Sicily. Research shows that this intrusive types might spread out rapidly across Europe, posturing environmental, health, and economic obstacles. (Artists illustration. See images below.).
The intrusive red fire ant, native to South America, has been formally identified in Sicily, marking its intro to Europe. Scientists warn of its possible quick spread, positioning significant ecological and health obstacles throughout the continent.
In an article that will be published today (September 11) in the journal Current Biology, a group of ant professionals verify that the types has actually made its method to Sicily– the ants very first main sighting in Europe. The ants might soon spread out all over the continent, the scientists alert, which could cause major environmental, health, and financial issues in Italy and beyond.
” S. invicta is one of the worst invasive species. It can spread alarmingly quickly,” states lead author Mattia Menchetti of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. “Finding this species in Italy was a big surprise, but we understood this day would come.”.
Typically called the imported red fire ant, S. invictas name comes from the ants most infamous characteristic– its stings– which are painful and, occasionally, may cause anaphylactic shock.
Close up photo of S. invicta. Credit: Jesse Rorabaugh.
The Ants Global March.
It originated in South America, S. invicta has spread quickly, flying into wind streams to take a trip further on the local level. Human beings have actually likewise helped it spread both through the maritime trade industry and by shipping plant products, allowing it to develop in Australia, China, the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout the United States in less than a century. Europe has actually evaded them for longer than expected, say the researchers.
” There are a large number of alien ant species presently developing in Europe, and the lack of this types was kind of a relief,” states Menchetti. “For years, scientists have actually feared that it would arrive. We could not think our eyes when we saw it.”.
They found an overall of 88 nests in a 4.7-hectare area next to a river, some of which housed many thousands of employee ants. “The residents have been experiencing these agonizing things given that at least 2019, so the ants have actually probably been there for a while,” says Menchetti.
S. invicta nest in Sicily beside a river. Credit: Institute of Evolutionary Biology.
Predictions and origins.
The team presumes that this wasnt S. invictas first point of arrival in Europe. Although they could not determine how precisely S. invicta entered into Italy, after evaluating the DNA of the Sicilian queen ants and comparing it with the genomes of ants from all over the world, the scientists concluded that this specific population likely originated from either the US or China.
Next, the authors evaluated the regional wind patterns in Sicily to see how the ants might spread out now that theyre in Europe. They also assembled an extensive model to identify how ideal the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean location will be for the species– and whether climate change will be an aspect.
According to the design, 7% of the European continent is ideal for S. invicta offered present ecological conditions, and climate change will likely expedite their spread and population growth even further. They also discovered that metropolitan areas are particularly at risk. 50% of Europes cities are vulnerable to invasion. “This is especially worrying because a number of the cities, consisting of London, Amsterdam, and Rome, have large seaports, which could allow the ants to spread rapidly to more continents and countries,” says senior author Roger Vila, who is likewise from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain.
Map revealing the areas of native and invasive populations of S. invicta worldwide. Credit: Institute of Evolutionary Biology.
Removal and Public Involvement.
To start, theyll methodically examine local locations to see if the species has currently reached them. The authors worry the importance of getting the public included as much as possible to help keep track of the ants spread.
The group hopes to organize resident science programs in which people would look for S. Invicta and take images if they believe theyve found the ants. The professionals would then confirm to validate that its the ideal ant types– a crucial step since many European ants make similar-looking nests.
” There requires to be more awareness about this issue because the issue is already in Europe,” says Menchetti. “We need collaborated action, and we need it now.”.
Reference: “The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is developed in Europe” 11 September 2023, Current Biology.DOI: 10.1016/ j.cub.2023.07.036.
This research study was supported by moneying from the “la Caixa” Foundation, by a Beatriu de Pinós fellowship, and by the Secretaria dUniversitats i Recerca 91 (Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya) with a Joan Oró predoctoral 92 program grant and the European Social Fund Plus.