The invasive red fire ant has established a presence in Europe, with colonies found in Sicily, Italy. This aggressive species, posing ecological and health threats, could potentially colonize 7% of Europe. Researchers stress the urgency for rapid response and widespread monitoring. Credit: Jesse Rorabaughin the world, and the 5th most costly to combat, has been introduced and established in Europe.
In less than a century, this ant has spread in 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 nearly six billion euros per year, while countries like Australia allocate millions to its eradication, with little success.