It is still difficult for red fire ants to ravage for 16 years, and SOP is killing more and more. Experts: special measures should be made for prevention and control.

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Taiwan's red fire ants have been rampant for many years, but they still cannot be eradicated. They often bite people. In particular, Xinbei, Taoyuan and Hsinchu in northern Taiwan and Kinmen on the outer island are the hardest hit areas. In April this year, thousands of hectares of Miaoli were affected by ants. The ant infestation in the north cannot be stopped, and it is necessary to prevent the red fire ants from spreading southward. The prevention and control of red fire ants in China has entered its 16th year, and the prevention and control work is still difficult.

Experts pointed out that the lack of expertise and adequate resources made prevention difficult. There is a serious shortage of funds for the prevention and control of red fire ants in all counties and cities, and even the funds of the central prevention and inspection bureau are quite tight, resulting in insufficient application or bait application times every year. In addition, the coordination between ministries is not smooth, the grass-roots personnel are frequently replaced, and the public literacy is insufficient, all of which make it difficult for the prevention and control work to be in place.

Red fire ants invade as containers move in and out of global ports

Red fire ants originated in South America, invaded Alabama in the 1930s, and continued to spread at a rate of 198 kilometers per year with the construction of highways. Under global trade, they spread to all parts of the world with containers. In 1990, they crossed the Pacific Ocean to Australia. In 1992, they began to wreak havoc in Taiwan.

"Containers are the key to the spread of Red Fire Ants internationally." Lin Tsung-chi, chief executive officer of the National Red Fire Ant Control Center and professor of biology at Changhua Normal University, says that most people believe that soil or plants contaminated by ant colonies are loaded into containers without inspection, resulting in cross-border transmission of red fire ants. Lin Zongqi said, In fact, The space below the container is the main reason, Because hidden is not easy to be found, Like dry environment of red fire ants nest here, Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002, Start with international frequent trade, A large number of containers began to enter and exit the port, Red fire ants followed the invasion.

With the development of science and technology, the voyage of sea freight has been shortened, and the bottom of containers has been raised. At that time, there was no procedure for cleaning the outside of containers. Therefore, the ant nest safely crossed the sea and landed from the southern port of Taiwan. The harm to the environment included farmland, schools, parks, military camps, airports and green spaces beside roads.

Photographer/Lin Yijun invaded Taiwan for 16 years and still endangers it

Red fire ants were first discovered in Taoyuan and Chiayi in September and October 1992. They nest in farmland, gardens, parks, school playgrounds and wasteland. Red fire ants are omnivorous, they will prey on earthworms in the soil, soft worms in the field, etc., they will also nibble on seeds, tender stems, leaf buds, etc. of crops, and even bite people close to ant mounds. Farmers who often work in the fields suffer from it. Once bitten, they will feel pain like fire burning, and then blisters will appear. Sensitive people may become infected or even sent to hospital.

At present, RIFA has not been extinct in Taiwan. According to the data of National RIFA Control Center, it is distributed in 4 counties and cities, totaling 23 regions, among which Taoyuan City is the most seriously endangered county and city. Only Fuxing District of the whole city has not been occupied, and there are traces of RIFA in other areas.