The Red Fire Ant Is One of the Major Invasive Species
The red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is an intrusive species from South America that has actually had a significant effect on communities, agriculture, and human health in several countries worldwide. Its sting is unpleasant and annoying and can trigger pustules and allergies, perhaps leading to anaphylactic shock.
In less than a century, this ant has actually spread in much of the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, Taiwan, and Australia, and has actually been removed only in New Zealand. Its existence in the United States has triggered an estimated loss of almost six billion euros per year, while nations like Australia designate millions to its eradication, with little success.
The Arrival of the Red Fire Ant in Italy
Before this research study, S. invicta had been discovered occasionally in imported items in Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands, but its facility on the continent had actually never ever been validated.
Using hereditary analyses, the study concluded that the population discovered most likely come from China or the United States, but the path of entry is unknown. The colonies are located in a suburb of the city of Syracuse, Sicily, comprising an estuary and a natural park. It is an isolated location, so it is unlikely that it was the very first point of entry to the island. The group concluded that the entry point need to have been a transit location with human activity, such as the business port of the city of Syracuse. Indeed, analyses of the wind direction show that some flying queen ants might have shown up from the northwest, where the port of Syracuse is situated and where the group has suggested keeping an eye on for this invasive types.
Prospective European Invasion by the Red Fire Ant
Using distribution designs established in cooperation with CREAF, under present ecological conditions, the study concluded that this invasive species could potentially be established in approximately 7% of the continent.
The results recommend that half of the metropolitan locations in Europe would be climatically suitable for the facility of this invasive types. Large cities such as Barcelona, Rome, London, or Paris could be considerably affected by this invasive types, which can affect peoples lifestyles due to its abundance and aggressiveness.
Mediterranean seaside cities, highly linked by seaports, are the most suitable to S. invicta, which could facilitate its spread. Thinking about environment change predictions, the scenario might end up being much even worse, as the types could potentially broaden to other parts of Europe.
” Coordinated efforts for early detection and fast reaction in the region are vital to successfully manage this new danger, before it spreads out frantically,” alerts Roger Vila, principal detective at the IBEs group of Butterfly Diversity and Evolution, who led the study.
” The public could play an essential function in the detection of S. invicta, thinking about that it is regularly found in urban and surrounding areas. It is possible to spot this ants due to its painful stings and the particular mounds of their nests, although verification of a specialist is needed,” describes Mattia Menchetti, an INPhINIT “la Caixa” pre-doctoral scientist at IBE and the research studys first author.
Provided the dispersal capacity of this invasive species and the assumed presence of an unidentified initial point of entry, the team advises that keeping an eye on be extended over a larger geographical area.
For more on this research study, see Invasive Red Fire Ants Confirmed in Europe for the First Time.
Recommendation: “The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is established in Europe” by Mattia Menchetti, Enrico Schifani, Antonio Alicata, Laura Cardador, Elisabetta Sbrega, Eric Toro-Delgado and Roger Vila, 11 September 2023, Current Biology.DOI: 10.1016/ j.cub.2023.07.036.
This study received assistance from the “la Caixa” Foundation, to name a few companies.
The invasive red fire ant has actually established an existence in Europe, with colonies discovered in Sicily, Italy. This aggressive types, presenting environmental and health dangers, could possibly colonize 7% of Europe.
The study confirmed that the red fire ant, considered one of the most intrusive species in the world, and the 5th most costly to combat, has been presented and developed in Europe.
A study published in the distinguished journal Current Biology, led by the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council ( CSIC) and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), has recognized 88 red fire ant nests spread out over 5 hectares near the city of Syracuse, in Sicily, Italy. These are intrusive colonies that might have come from China or the United States, where it is likewise an intrusive species, according to the research studys hereditary analyses. This work, led by Roger Vila, a researcher at the IBE, with Mattia Menchetti as its first author, an INPhINIT “la Caixa” pre-doctoral researcher at the exact same institute, has actually had the participation of CREAF, the University of Parma, and the University of Catania.
The ecological designs introduced in the study reveal alarming predictions about the colonization capacity of this ant in Europe, which could be assisted in by environment change.
The invasive red fire ant has developed an existence in Europe, with nests found in Sicily, Italy. This aggressive species, posing environmental and health hazards, might potentially colonize 7% of Europe. These are invasive colonies that might have come from China or the United States, where it is likewise an invasive species, according to the studys genetic analyses. Using hereditary analyses, the research study concluded that the population spotted most likely stemmed in China or the United States, however the path of entry is unidentified. Analyses of the wind instructions show that some flying queen ants could have arrived from the northwest, where the port of Syracuse is located and where the group has advised keeping track of for this invasive types.
