Fire ants found in containers from Taiwan in inland Japan
July 17, 2017
TOKYO- A total of 24 venomous fire ants have been discovered inside two containers from Taiwan that arrived in Hitachiota, Ibaraki Prefecture, eastern Japan, this month, the prefectural government and Japan's Environment Ministry said Sunday.
With no queen ant among them, propagation is seen as unlikely.
This is the second time that fire ants, designated as an invasive alien species in Japan, have been found in an inland area of the country, after a discovery in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, earlier this month.
The containers carrying industrial products left Taiwan's Port of Kaohsiung on June 29. After arriving at Aomi Pier of Tokyo Bay on July 3, they were transported by land to Hitachiota.
Two dead fire ants were discovered when cargo was taken out of one of the containers on Wednesday. Another was found during cleaning work for the container.
After a report to the prefectural government, 20 dead fire ants were found attached to a film wrapping the cargo. Yet another dead fire ant was found inside the second container. (Jiji Press)
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