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Chuanguan News reporter Wei Wei
Mounds of earth between 10-30 cm in height and 30-50 cm in diameter should be kept at a distance if you come across them outdoors, as this is most likely not a treasure hunt, but a nest of "red fire ants".
A red fire ant nest found on the Jinjiang Greenway on the inner side of the Chengdu Ring Expressway.
On May 12, a Sichuan Guan News reporter observed on a green space on the side of the Jinjiang Greenway on the inner side of the Ring Expressway that several mounds were planted with small flags, and the flags were printed with ant patterns and warning words such as "Red Fire Ant Monitoring and Prevention and Control". In the pores of these mounds, a large number of ants can be seen frequently entering and exiting, and actively climbing.
The reporter used a mobile phone case (left) to compare the size of the red fire ant nest on the Jinjiang Greenway on the inner side of the Chengdu Ring Expressway.
The staff planted warning signs next to the red fire ant nests on the side of the Jinjiang Greenway on the inner side of the Chengdu Ring Expressway.
It is reported that as the temperature warms up, the red fire ants, known as the "strongest invasive insect on the surface", have entered the active season. Recognized as one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world, red fire ants pose a serious threat to agriculture, forestry, human health and ecosystems. If a red fire ant nest is found near the residence, the public should avoid it as much as possible, do not approach it, and report it to the landscape and forestry department in a timely manner, so that professional and technical personnel or control companies can take corresponding measures to control it.
Red fire ants climb in and out through holes in their burrows.
Red fire ants appear on the side of the Jinjiang Greenway on the inner side of the Chengdu Ring Expressway.
Red fire ant nests tend to form anthills that are 10-30 cm tall.
Red fire ant nests. (Photo courtesy of the Law Enforcement and Quarantine Section of Chengdu Forestry and Grassland Pest Control and Quarantine Station)
Originating from South America, the red fire ant has a reddish-brown body similar to that of a common ant, with a body length of about 3 to 6 mm. It is listed as "one of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world" and is included in the national list of pests of concern in agriculture, forestry and phytosanitary.
In response to questions such as which environments are easy for red fire ants to inhabit, how to identify red fire ant nests and how to deal with red fire ant bites, the reporter interviewed Wu Shan, chief of the law enforcement and quarantine section of Chengdu Forestry and Grassland Pest Control and Quarantine Station.
The dangers of red fire ants
Wu Shan said that red fire ants are not only aggressive, but also have a wide range of feeding habits, covering seeds, plants, insects and even wire insulation, and can quickly establish high-density colonies in newly invaded areas, posing a serious threat to agriculture and forestry, human health, public safety and the ecological environment. That's why the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as one of the world's 100 most devastating invasive species.
Common habitat of red fire ants
According to Wushan, the optimal temperature range for red fire ants to be active is 21~34 °C, and they are mainly active in spring and autumn. They are mostly found in park lawns, green belts, farmland, idle building land, riverbank sides, forest areas, residential areas, road green belts, riversides and pond edges, etc., and these areas span the responsibilities of multiple management departments such as agriculture and rural areas, forestry and gardening, housing construction, water affairs, and transportation.
A method for distinguishing common ant nests from red fire ant nests
Wu Shan explained that native ants do not usually build nests that are significantly higher than the ground. Red fire ants, on the other hand, are underground nesting types, and their mature nests are formed by soil accumulation, about 10-30 cm high and 30-50 cm in diameter, and it takes 4-9 months for new nests to appear as small mounds. When the ant colony is disturbed, the red fire ants will attack quickly, and the characteristics of the anthill and the attack behavior of the ants are one of the effective means to quickly identify the red fire ants.
The correct response measures for the public to discover the red fire ant nest
Wushan suggests that the public should wear closed shoes and cover the whole body as much as possible when exercising in the forest or green space, especially those with allergies need to strengthen protection. When encountering a red fire ant nest, remember not to try to trample, landfill, burn or apply pesticides at will, so as not to attract ant colony attacks or encourage ant colony migration, which will increase the difficulty of treatment. The correct thing to do is to stay away from the ant nest and immediately notify the local agriculture and forestry department to deal with it.
Symptoms and emergency treatment after a red fire ant bite
When a red fire ant bites, it clamps its jaw and then injects venom several times with its tail spine, causing severe burning sensation and blister formation. Most people experience only pain and discomfort, but a small number may have a severe allergic reaction to the venom protein, resulting in fever, transient blindness, vomiting, hives, shock, and even life-threatening. Once bitten, the wound should be cleaned with soap or water, and allergy creams containing steroids can be applied to relieve symptoms. If you have symptoms such as fever or difficulty breathing, you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.