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arashitranslationWays to distinguish and deal with red imported fire ant
Red imported fire ant is found in Tokyo and then the inland of Aichi Prefecture,
How should we deal with it?
We borrowed a precious item.
(Cooperation: Museum of Natural and Environmental History, Shizuoka, Associate Professor Kishimoto Toshio)
In June 2017,
the “red imported fire ants” collected by experts in Taiwan.
Because they are quite small, let us move the camera closer.
Five specimens are made …
Named as “ant of fire”
their heads are red and shiny.
Their size are around 2mm to 6mm.
Then, what are the difference between Japan’s ant and the red imported fire ant?
Red imported fire ant, among ant, is classified as “medium size”.
In Japan there are various kinds of ants,
Japanese carpenter ant which is usually seen at park is
7mm to 12mm which is “big size”.
As for red ant, Monomorium intrudens is in this species,
while it is 2mm which is “small size”
there is no red imported fire ant as small as this size.
To correctly distinguish them needs to use microscope,
According to the experts, there are points which help to suspect whether the ant is red imported fire ant.
◎Colour is red and shiny
◎With needle, severe pain when stung
Though Japan’s ant also has needle,
red imported fire ant’s needle is very powerful, and it is aggressive too
◎Like this, among crowd,
Ants of various sizes mingle
◎A big anthill is built
It seems that there is no ant in Japan which makes big anthill with soil.
With such characteristics together, it is suspected that it is red imported fire ant.
Though red imported fire ant is with poison,
in case one is stung, it is rare to cause death.
What is dangerous is, when being stung
there is occasion to incur “allergic symptoms”.
Among them, called “anaphylaxis”
when this strong symptom appears there is danger of life,
If there is nettle rash and difficulty in breathing, palpitation and vertigo,
it is important to go to have medical examination at medical institution right away.
Besides, red imported fire ants often make their nests “near human habitation”.
They do not make nests deep in the forest,
but have a preference towards places levelled by people.
Places like metropolitan’s park and, roadside, lawn and farmland.
That is to say, the most vulnerable victims are
children and the elderly.
Currently, while in Japan the red imported fire ant is confirmed to “land”
whether it will “take hold” on this land is not confirmed.
If the “nest” of the red imported fire ant is created,
there will be more than 200,000 ants in one nest.
Furthermore, during the breeding season, the red imported fire ant
Queen ant with “feather” is born,
which flies several kilometers to make new nest there.
Given this situation, it will be increasingly difficult to eradicate them,
therefore right now, to prevent their “taking hold”
“quarantine measures” should be thoroughly implemented.
Quarantine measures include using spray-type “pesticide”,
“trap” which adhesive sheet to catch the red imported fire ant
and “poisonous bait” called bait agent.
However, just out of worry
and indiscriminately putting such poisonous baits at places where
there are no red imported fire ants
there may be case of “adverse effect”.
Supposed to fight against the red imported fire ants
the Japan’s “native species” may be dead and disappear from this land.
At this stage, the “extermination” of red imported fire ant
is better to be conducted by experts.
In case at home, there are ants which are suspected to be red imported fire ants,
please never touch them, please keep calm
and treat them with the spray-type “pesticide” available in the market.
If things suspected to be “anthills” are discovered
at places such as parks.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, please never touch them
instead please contact the local government and administrative unit.
As for the red imported fire ant which we cannot make light of,
it is important to have correct knowledge and correct fear.
Source: News Zeroイチメン (http://www.ntv.co.jp/zero/ichimen/2017/07/post-347.html)
Red imported fire ant is found in Tokyo and then the inland of Aichi Prefecture,
How should we deal with it?
We borrowed a precious item.
(Cooperation: Museum of Natural and Environmental History, Shizuoka, Associate Professor Kishimoto Toshio)
In June 2017,
the “red imported fire ants” collected by experts in Taiwan.
Because they are quite small, let us move the camera closer.
Five specimens are made …
Named as “ant of fire”
their heads are red and shiny.
Their size are around 2mm to 6mm.
Then, what are the difference between Japan’s ant and the red imported fire ant?
Red imported fire ant, among ant, is classified as “medium size”.
In Japan there are various kinds of ants,
Japanese carpenter ant which is usually seen at park is
7mm to 12mm which is “big size”.
As for red ant, Monomorium intrudens is in this species,
while it is 2mm which is “small size”
there is no red imported fire ant as small as this size.
To correctly distinguish them needs to use microscope,
According to the experts, there are points which help to suspect whether the ant is red imported fire ant.
◎Colour is red and shiny
◎With needle, severe pain when stung
Though Japan’s ant also has needle,
red imported fire ant’s needle is very powerful, and it is aggressive too
◎Like this, among crowd,
Ants of various sizes mingle
◎A big anthill is built
It seems that there is no ant in Japan which makes big anthill with soil.
With such characteristics together, it is suspected that it is red imported fire ant.
Though red imported fire ant is with poison,
in case one is stung, it is rare to cause death.
What is dangerous is, when being stung
there is occasion to incur “allergic symptoms”.
Among them, called “anaphylaxis”
when this strong symptom appears there is danger of life,
If there is nettle rash and difficulty in breathing, palpitation and vertigo,
it is important to go to have medical examination at medical institution right away.
Besides, red imported fire ants often make their nests “near human habitation”.
They do not make nests deep in the forest,
but have a preference towards places levelled by people.
Places like metropolitan’s park and, roadside, lawn and farmland.
That is to say, the most vulnerable victims are
children and the elderly.
Currently, while in Japan the red imported fire ant is confirmed to “land”
whether it will “take hold” on this land is not confirmed.
If the “nest” of the red imported fire ant is created,
there will be more than 200,000 ants in one nest.
Furthermore, during the breeding season, the red imported fire ant
Queen ant with “feather” is born,
which flies several kilometers to make new nest there.
Given this situation, it will be increasingly difficult to eradicate them,
therefore right now, to prevent their “taking hold”
“quarantine measures” should be thoroughly implemented.
Quarantine measures include using spray-type “pesticide”,
“trap” which adhesive sheet to catch the red imported fire ant
and “poisonous bait” called bait agent.
However, just out of worry
and indiscriminately putting such poisonous baits at places where
there are no red imported fire ants
there may be case of “adverse effect”.
Supposed to fight against the red imported fire ants
the Japan’s “native species” may be dead and disappear from this land.
At this stage, the “extermination” of red imported fire ant
is better to be conducted by experts.
In case at home, there are ants which are suspected to be red imported fire ants,
please never touch them, please keep calm
and treat them with the spray-type “pesticide” available in the market.
If things suspected to be “anthills” are discovered
at places such as parks.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, please never touch them
instead please contact the local government and administrative unit.
As for the red imported fire ant which we cannot make light of,
it is important to have correct knowledge and correct fear.
Source: News Zeroイチメン (http://www.ntv.co.jp/zero/ichimen/2017/07/post-347.html)