Scientists estimate that global warming promotes the spread of the fire ant to new areas.
The fire ant, one of the world’s most aggressive alien species, has spread to Europe for the first time, according to a recent study. It has been published In Current Biology.
The ant from South America is scientifically called Solenopsis invicta.
Fire ants can be irritable when disturbed and they sting very painfully. The injection irritates the skin and may cause an allergic reaction.
In June The Washington Post magazine reported that a woman in her forties in the United States had died after stepping on fire ants. He had a bad allergic reaction to ant stings.
In addition, these bugs wreak havoc on crops and local ecosystems.
The fire ant spreads like a faucet
During the last century, the species already spread to the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, Taiwan and Australia.
Now the fire ant has been proven to have spread to Europe as well.
Researchers report in Current Biology that they discovered 88 fire ant nests near the city of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy during the winter of 2022-2023.
In addition, fire ants have been found in imported products in Finland, Spain and the Netherlands.
However, according to the researchers, no fire ant colonies had been observed in Europe before this study.
In Syracuse, local people told investigators that ant stings have been occurring regularly in the area since at least 2019.
It is not known for certain how the fire ants have ended up in the area. Researchers speculate that the creatures may have arrived in Sicily through the cargo port of Augusta.
The ant queens flying from there could have ended up with the wind about 13 kilometers away to the area where the observed nests are located.
Based on genetic analysis, the researchers estimate that fire ants most likely came to Italy from the United States, China or Taiwan.
A warming climate promotes the spread
Half of Europe’s urban areas are already suitable for fire ants in terms of their living conditions, researchers estimate.
According to them, global warming is expected to promote the spread of the fire ant to new areas.
However, according to the maps prepared by the researchers, the conditions in Finland do not seem to be suitable for fire ants.
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