Red Fire Ants: A costly threat to Europe

One of the world's worst and costliest invasive alien species, red fire ants, is making Italy their home, according to a new study revealing their arrival in Europe for the first time.

According to research published in the scientific journal Current Biology, the red fire ant formed a mature population in Sicily, Italy.

The study warns that global warming could spread the ants across the continent. The species already finds the climate in half of Europe's urban areas suitable. These impacts could be devastating and costly for biodiversity, crops, and human health.

Researchers identified 88 nests across 5 hectares (12 acres) near the city of Syracuse in Sicily, where the non-native species, also known by the scientific name Solenopsis invicta, has become established. Late 2022 genetic analysis indicates the species could have come from China or the US.

The Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) led a study published in the scientific journal Current Biology.

The researchers behind the analysis concluded that the species could potentially spread and establish in approximately 7% of Europe, where about half of urban areas have an ideal climate for the species to thrive. They warned that this could have serious economic consequences on the continent.

Why are red fire ants dangerous?

Fire ants are troublemakers. When they move to a new place, they take over and harm local ants and plants. They can also sting animals, and people, and make parks unsafe. Some people can even get very sick from their stings. These ants also harm birds, fish, crops, and machines.

They are one of the most expensive invasive species globally, causing about €20 billion in damage and control from 1970 to 2017. Fire ants are on the list of the 100 worst invasive species.

Red fire ants are a venomous and invasive species that can cause painful bites, allergic reactions, and ecological damage. They are native to South America, but have spread to other continents, such as North America, Australia, and recently Europe. 

They are hard to get rid of, as they can withstand cold temperatures and form large colonies. Their venom affects the nervous system and can cause symptoms such as itching, swelling, blisters, fever, nausea, and in rare cases, anaphylaxis or death. Red fire ants are dangerous to humans, animals, and plants, as they can attack anything that disturbs their nests or competes with their food sources. 

They can also damage crops, electrical equipment, and buildings. Red fire ants are a serious threat that requires urgent control measures to prevent their further spread and impact.

Possible Red Fire Ant Invasion in Europe

A study, done with help from CREAF, found that this invasive species could live in about 7% of Europe under current conditions. That means it might settle in half of Europe's cities. Big cities like Barcelona, Rome, London, and Paris could be heavily affected by these aggressive ants.

The coastal cities around the Mediterranean, which have a lot of seaports, are the best places for these ants to live. And if the climate keeps changing like it is, these ants could move to other parts of Europe.

Scientists say we need to work together to find and deal with this new problem before it spreads too much. The public can help by reporting these ants, known for their painful stings and big nests, to experts. Since these ants can move far, the team suggests keeping an eye on a larger area to catch them early.

"Coordinated efforts for early detection and rapid response in the region are essential to successfully manage this new threat, before it spreads uncontrollably," warns Roger Vila, principal investigator at the IBE’s group of Butterfly Diversity and Evolution, who led the study.

“The public could play a key role in the detection of S. invicta, considering that it is frequently found in urban and adjacent areas. It is possible to detect this ants due to its painful stings and the characteristic mounds of their nests, although confirmation of an expert is required,” explains Mattia Menchetti, an INPhINIT ”la Caixa” pre-doctoral researcher at IBE and the study’s first author.

Where do red fire ants come from?

Red fire ants, originally from South America, have quickly spread to places like the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, China, Taiwan, and Australia, mostly through human trade. They can hitch rides in soil, hay, mulch, and construction materials.

These ants are already a concern in the EU and cost the US about $1 billion each year. New Zealand is the only place to completely get rid of them.

While they've been found in products in Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands before, they've never been seen in the wild like in Sicily, where they've discovered 88 nests.

In the past few decades, international trade and the movement of people, goods, food products, and animals have been enhanced by globalization, resulting in the mobility of various species outside their native habitats. Migration patterns have been further accelerated by extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and hurricanes. Their proliferation has also been boosted by climate-induced changes in land cover and atmosphere.

New research suggests that the more than 3,500 invasive species introduced by human activities to regions and biomes worldwide pose a serious threat to human health, food security, and biodiversity, costing the global economy $423 billion each year.

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