Invasive Red Fire Ant Colonies, Found in Europe For the First Time.
According to a new study, red fire ants have been found in Europe for the first time.
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CNN reports that the highly invasive species, which has the scientific name Solenopsis invicta, is natively found in South America.
The species have now spread throughout the world, from the United States, all the way to China and Australia, over the last century.
The aggressive insects possess a painful sting, which can irritate the skin and trigger allergic reactions.
The invasive species can also cause damage to both crops and local ecosystems. According to researchers, 88 red fire ant nests have been identified near the city of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy.
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Invicta is one of the worst invasive species.
It can spread alarmingly quickly, Mattia Menchetti, Lead study author and researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, via CNN.
Finding this species in Italy was a big surprise, but we knew this day would come, Mattia Menchetti, Lead study author and researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, via CNN.
According to the study's authors, while red fire ants were previously discovered in imported products, this is the first time colonies of the invasive species have been identified.
According to the study's authors, while red fire ants were previously discovered in imported products, this is the first time colonies of the invasive species have been identified.
The team's findings were published in the scientific journal 'Current Biology.'.
Last week, a United Nations-backed report warned that invasive species were driving both plant and animal extinctions, while also threatening global food security.
