Red fire ants, a dreaded pest, have invaded Europe. Really!

To be more precise, there is one colony in Sicily!

Is this the next hysteria and alarmism? And what is making it worse? Climate Change of course!

I've got ants in my pants and I want to dance (song written by James Brown). Don't pee in your pants yet! 😊

Of course, it seems very important to monitor and to respond quickly with eradication to any infestation.

"Last week, international experts warned that invasive species are costing the world economy almost half-a-trillion dollars annually. Today, researchers confirmed that one of the most fearsome invaders—the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), a pest native to South America that packs a painful sting and infests houses and crops—has taken hold in Italy. It is the first European detection of colonies, which are known to drive out native ants and other wildlife and damage electrical equipment. ...
The insects spread internationally via shipping, especially of plants and soil. Red fire ants have been detected in imported products in Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands, but not as wild colonies. ...
Only New Zealand has completely eradicated fire ants after an invasion. Australia has stopped six incursions at ports since 2001, including one with at least 370 colonies over 8300 hectares. ..."

From the abstract:

"The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is classified as one of the worst invasive alien species and as the fifth costliest worldwide, impacting ecosystems, agriculture and human health. We report the establishment of S. invicta in Europe for the first time, documenting a mature population in Sicily. We use genetic analyses to assess its putative origin, as well as wind tracking and species distribution modelling to predict its potential range on the continent. We show that half of the urban areas in Europe are already suitable and that climate warming expected under current trends will favor the expansion of this invasive ant."

Red fire ants, a dreaded pest, have invaded Europe | Science | AAAS

The invasive ant Solenopsis invicta is established in Europe (open access)

Figure 1 Location, genetic analysis, and modeling of the potential spread of the new alien population of S. invicta.