r/japan • u/SkyInJapan • 7d ago
20,000 invasive golden fire ants found on Kobe artificial island, in Japan first
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260928/p2a/00m/0na/022000cKOBE -- About 20,000 adult golden fire ants, along with some 20 queens and an unspecified number of larvae, were found at a container yard on Port Island, an artificial island in the Port of Kobe, the city government announced on Sept. 25.
The discovery marks the first confirmed case of the type of fire ant in Japan. The ants are designated as an invasive alien species requiring urgent action. Golden in color, they are reportedly less venomous than red imported fire ants.
The area was treated with insecticide, and no injuries have been reported.
According to the city and other authorities, the ants were discovered on Sept. 14 in soil beneath shipping containers and elsewhere during a routine survey by the Environment Ministry. Experts subsequently identified them as golden fire ants. How they entered Japan remains unknown.
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u/varnalama 7d ago
Unless these fire ants can ride the Port Liner across the bridge, they thankfully shouldnt be able to spread further into the city. The infested container they came in on though is probably another story.
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u/japanpole 7d ago
Lotta cars go back and forth from Port Island daily. Myself included.
Theres been all manner of overseas ants that have come in on ships to Port Island. Our factory was overrun by Argentinian ants before.
Surely theres got to be a better decontamination method for these containers coming off ships
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u/varnalama 7d ago
Sorry. Was just a poor joke, but youre absolutely right. Plenty of vehicle traffic across that bridge.
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u/skytreegamer172 6d ago
Ants are everywhere man. I once randomly found an ant on me while riding the train from Saitama to Tokyo. Poor fella must've been really confused once I dropped him off at a park 😭. Bugs can hitch rides on anything, cars, ships, etc, so yuh, they kinda gotta deal with it asap
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u/Neo21803 4d ago
Isn't 20,000... like not a lot? I'm not an entymologist.
Can this not be eradicated pretty easily? Or is it implying a much greater possible infestation?
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u/Syllogism19 7d ago
Fire ants are generally only a problem when they are moved out of their home territory. The fire ants which are a problem in India originated in Texas, USA. The fire ants which cause such trouble in Texas, USA came from Brazil.