Recently, the potential invasion of red fire ants has become the focus of many people's attention. The ants, native to South America, have reportedly landed in Sicily, Italy, and a team of researchers has found 88 red fire ant nests on a plot of just 4.7 hectares, some of which are home to thousands of members. This is the first time the ant has appeared in Europe, causing widespread concern.
When the red fire ants arrived, scientists conducted DNA tests and showed that the ants originated either from China or the United States. And, based on models, scientists predict that 50% of cities across Europe could be infected, including London, UK.
In one of his videos, he is not afraid of the danger of red fire ants, and steps barefoot on the territory of red fire ants, experiencing the bite of red fire ants firsthand. In the video, he is wearing a neat suit, but he is not afraid to stand on the ground, and he is soon attacked by red fire ants. He described the bites as feeling so intense that he couldn't help but scream: "Red fire ants are powerful, they're ruining my feet!" After just a few minutes, the bite on his leg started to be red and swollen, and the pain was unbearable, and he could only relieve the pain by screaming. Soon after, he had to sweep away the ants on his legs with a feather duster, ending the experiment.
In addition, the bite of red fire ants can also trigger allergic reactions and even lead to death. According to statistics, more than 80 people have died due to the bite of red fire ants. In fact, in 2020, there was a case of anaphylactic shock caused by red fire ant bites in Guangzhou, and fortunately, it was successfully saved after timely treatment.
So why are red fire ants so dangerous, yet spread rapidly around the world, yet uncontrolled? This is mainly due to their multiple modes of transmission. Red fire ants can hide in substances such as soil, plant products, building materials, etc., and spread through global trade. Even over short distances, they can be transmitted by wind and water, and can even form an antraft to float elsewhere. According to research, as early as the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, red fire ants arrived in the port of Mobile in the United States by cargo ships, and then quickly took root in the United States, and their numbers surged. By 2004, the ant had established footholds in 13 states, occupying more than 128 million hectares of land, with as many as 400 anthills per acre. In China, the first discovery of red fire ants was in 2004 in Wuchuan, Guangzhou, and by 2013, red fire ants had set foot in 7 provinces/regions and 169 counties in China.
In addition, red fire ants possess strong aggression, and their bites pose a threat not only to humans, but also to other animals. Therefore, there are few near their nests
Wildlife spots, and even other species of ants, are rarely able to survive within their territory. Another reason is the omnivorous nature of red fire ants, which not only eat plant seeds, but also prey on other small animals, and even occasionally attack defenseless invertebrates.
This kind of harmful ants has brought huge problems to the surrounding ecosystem and urban construction. Their nests are usually large and numerous, and if they gather in agricultural fields, they can affect the growth and survival of plant seeds. In cities, they can erode infrastructure and even cause collapses. When entering human settlements, they can also bite off wires and start fires. Red fire ants can also appear in wild places such as parks because they are too powerful to drive away other ants, harm wildlife, and threaten ecological balance.
Most worryingly, according to forecasts, red fire ants have arrived in Italy, which means that European countries such as the United Kingdom will also be threatened. If effective measures are not taken, red fire ants will spread throughout Europe at an alarming rate. Many urban environments in Europe are very conducive to the survival of red fire ants, and ports are the main routes for their transmission. Scientists say that the invasion of Italian red fire ants may be even more serious than what is currently seen, so the control of red fire ants has become a serious challenge