Dead Fire Ant Found in Osaka

May 11, 2018

Tokyo- A dead fire ant was found in Osaka Prefecture, the Environment Ministry has said.

This was the first discovery of the venomous insect in Japan this year.

According to the ministry, the dead red imported fire ant was found inside a television set container box at a private residence in the city of Yao of the western Japan prefecture. No one was hurt.

The box was exported from China in early April and arrived at Osaka Port in the middle of the month. It was then shipped to a retail shop in the city.

The dead ant was identified as a queen. The wingless body suggests it did not freshly die.

The ministry calls for importers to check if there are any other fire ants in goods container boxes. Jiji Press