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Sicily: the proliferation of fire ants harms biodiversity
Sicily: the proliferation of fire ants harms biodiversity
(franceinfo)
Fire ants were already present in America, Australia and China. Since last summer, they have appeared in Europe, on the east coast of Sicily. This invasive species threatens farmers and biodiversity.
It measures only a few millimeters, but with its mandibles and stinger, the fire ant is one of the most aggressive and dangerous species in the world. Wherever it goes, it attacks crops, infrastructure and humans. These ants can cross rivers without drowning, and even oceans if they travel by boat. Originally from South America, the fire ant has already reached the United States, via Australia and China. Last summer, it appeared in Europe, on the east coast of Sicily.
Global warming favors their proliferation
An agronomist has made it his battle since he discovered them. He travels the roads of Sicily to document their presence. Everywhere they go, they call him. In a lady’s garden, ants killed most of the rose bushes, around twenty in total. They even attacked the electronic card of the entrance gate. For the moment, the phenomenon is concentrated on a strip of 20 kilometers along the coast, but global warming favors the proliferation of these ants. The latter are particularly worrying for agriculture, Sicily’s main source of income.
