Urgent warning over deadly insects creeping closer to Britain as ‘aggressive’ threat begins to spread
A potentially deadly and aggressive insect is on its way to Britain, new research warns.
The red fire ant, known for its “painful and irritating” sting, has now spread from South America to Sicily in southern Europe.
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The invasive species has a reputation for destroying ecosystems and agriculture and attacking people.
But now experts fear the insect could be on its way to Britain after finding 88 red fire ant nests spread over five hectares in Syracuse, Sicily.
Located in a suburb of the city of Syracuse, Sicily, the colonies include an estuary and a natural park.
Study leader Roger Vila, from the Spanish Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), said: “It is an isolated area, so it is unlikely that it was the first access point to the island.”
The team concluded that the entry point must have been a “transit” area of human activity – such as the commercial port of the city of Syracuse.
Analysis of wind direction suggests that some flying ant queens may have arrived from the northwest, where the port of Syracuse is located and where the team has recommended monitoring the ants.
Study leader Roger Vila, from the Spanish Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), said: “It is an isolated area, so it is unlikely that it was the first access point to the island.”
“The results suggest that half of urban areas in Europe would be climatically suitable for the establishment of this invasive species.”
“Major cities such as Barcelona, Rome, London or Paris could be significantly affected by this invasive species, which can have an impact on people’s lifestyles due to its abundance and aggressiveness.”
“Mediterranean coastal cities that are well connected by seaports are most suitable for S. invicta, which could facilitate its spread.”
“Given climate change predictions, the scenario could become much worse, with the species potentially spreading to other parts of Europe.”
He added: “Coordinated early detection and rapid response efforts in the region are essential to successfully manage this new threat before it spreads uncontrollably.”
The study’s first author, Mattia Menchetti, said: “The public could play a key role in the discovery of S. invicta, considering its common occurrence in urban and adjacent areas.”
“It is possible to detect this ant based on its painful stings and the characteristic mounds of its nests, although confirmation from an expert is required.”
In less than a century, the ant has spread throughout much of the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, Taiwan and Australia, and has been eradicated only in New Zealand.
Its presence in the United States has caused an estimated loss of more than £5 billion a year, while countries such as Australia devote millions to its eradication, although with little success.
DEADLY INVADER
Native to South America, BLACK and red fire ants are aggressive insects that were accidentally imported into the United States about 40 years ago.
They bite their victims with their mouths to hold them in place before injecting them with an alkaloid poison from their tail.
Fire ants use their venom to prey on other invertebrates, but they have been known to kill livestock when food is scarce, scientists say.
One ant is capable of inflicting multiple stings in a very short period of time, and a swarm can sting thousands.
In humans, the stings cause painful local swelling and, in rare cases, can lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
In the US, at least 83 people have been killed by fire ant swarms near their hills.
But experts warn that they also attack people inside buildings such as nursing homes and daycare centers.
In 1999, the American College of Physicians reported that two elderly patients died after fire ant stings in separate nursing homes in Mississippi.
A five-day-old baby also fell into a coma after ants invaded his crib but survived.
To successfully combat an infestation, the queen must be killed, otherwise the workers will keep coming back.