• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.437-438
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• 2017

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) was discovered in Busan sea port, Korea. Only one colony was found and then removed rapidly by Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.73-76
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• 2022

Most of ants seem to be beneficial, whereas some of them are annoying or harmful. Among harmful creatures red imported fire ants have been notorious for not only destroying farm plants and domestic animals but also biting and killing human beings. The red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richiteri Forel, will feed on the buds and fruits of numerous crop plants. Large nests located in fields interfere with and damage equipment during cultivation and harvesting. They respond rapidly and aggressively to disturbances, and ant attacks inhibit field worker activities. A single fire can sting its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals as well as humans are especially susceptible to the stings' venom. These pests can damage the environment by displacing native ant species and reducing food sources for wildlife. In Korea Solenopsis invicta Buren were found for the first time in Busan Gamman port in 2017. Then they were found in Incheon port, Pyongtaek port, North Daegu, Ansan in 2018 and Gwangyang in 2021. Once they invaded and occupied the terrestrial area, we have no proper solution to prevent them. I can assume that they have been successfully enlarging their colonies toward inland since they can move freely by flight. Therefore, I strongly suggest that we need to study ants in order not only to control harmful ants properly but also to preserve and use beneficial ants in this country.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2022

After detection of red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) at Gamman port in Busan in September of 2017, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency has surveilled invasive ants in the area with a high invasion risk of ants. However, existing surveillance traps have several limitations such as captured ants could escape easily or it is very hard to set up the trap on a hard ground like concrete or asphalt. To solve these problems, we developed a new trap using multiple narrow tubes to attract ants to the inside of the trap and make it hard for ants to escape. The new trap can be easily set up under various conditions. The new trap has more than four times ant capturing efficacy compared to conventional pitfall traps. Our results confirmed that the new trap could prevent captured ants from escaping. We hope that this newly developed trap would contribute to the prevention of invasive ants.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.357-361
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• 2021

Monitoring about nine high risk insect pests, Aceria diospyri, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera minax, Bactrocera tsuneonis, Cydia pomonella, Lobesia botrana, Proeulia sp., Solenopsis invicta and Stephanitis takeyai, were carried out in seven regions from April to October in 2020. A total of 12,045 traps/visual scouting were investigated in 222 points of 78 local sites of seven regions, resulting the nine species, A. diospyri, B. dorsalis, B. minax, B. tsuneonis, C. pomonella, L. botrana, Proeulia sp., S. invicta, and S. takeyai, were not detected. This study has been conducted from 2018 to 2020, and we established the nationwide monitoring system and secured a bridgehead for monitoring invasive insect pests passing the border including seven universities.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 2020

Monitoring about nine high risk insect pests, Aceria diospyri, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera minax, Bactrocera tsuneonis, Cydia pomonella, Lobesia botrana, Proeulia sp., Solenopsis invicta and Stephanitis takeyai, were carried out in seven regions from April to October in 2019. A total of 12,285 traps/visual scouting were investigated in 288 points of 87 local sites of seven regions, resulting the nine species, A. diospyri, B. dorsalis, B. minax, B. tsuneonis, C. pomonella, L. botrana, Proeulia sp., S. invicta, and S. takeyai, were not detected. This study have been carried out from 2018, and we established the nationwide monitoring system and secured a bridgehead for monitoring invasive insect pests passing the border.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-55
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• 2018

It has been noted that the main cause of biodiversity loss is influx of alien species. Specifically, habitats destruction, economic loss, and human injury are increasing due to invasive alien species. There were 2,167 alien species in Korea. 21 alien species of extraterrestrials including Lycorma delicatula, Solenopsis invicta, Myocastor coypus, and Spartina alterniflora at high risk through ecological risk assessment, are designated as invasive alien species. Alert species, which may have negative impact on ecosystems when they are introduced into the country, are assigned to 127 species through the ecosystem risk evaluation. To list such alien species to prevent invasion of alien species in advance, and to minimize damage caused by imported alien species, a national level management system called the Conservation and Use of Biological deversity Act was established, but there is a lack of a systematic management system in accordance with degree of risk. There is also a risk assessment chart should be developed thatreflects ecological characteristics of each taxon and evaluation criteria in predicting the risk.

• Entomological Research
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.505-513
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• 2018

The red imported fire ant is considered one of the most notorious invasive species because of its adverse impact on both humans and ecosystems. Public concern regarding red imported fire ants has been increasing, as they have been found seven times in South Korea. Even if red imported fire ants are not yet colonized in South Korea, a proper quarantine plan is necessary to prevent their widespread distribution. As a basis for quarantine planning, we modeled the potential distribution of the red imported fire ant under current climate conditions using six different species distribution models (SDMs) and then selected the random forest (RF) model for modeling the potential distribution under climate change. We acquired occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and bioclimatic data from WorldClim. We modeled at the global scale to project the potential distribution under the current climate and then applied models at the local scale to project the potential distribution of the red imported fire ant under climate change. Modeled results successfully represent the current distribution of red imported fire ants. The potential distribution area for red imported fire ants increased to include major harbors and airports in South Korea under the climate change scenario (RCP 8.5). Thus, we are able to provide a potential distribution of red imported fire ant that is necessary to establish a proper quarantine plan for their management to minimize adverse impacts of climate change.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.183-187
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• 2019

To establish the cooperative monitoring network which can investigate introductions or outbreaks of high risk insect pests into Korea, seven universities, Gyeongsang National University, Kunsan National University, Seoul National University, Sunchon National University, Andong National University, Jeju National University, and Chungbuk National University, carried out seven regions' monitoring about nine high risk insect pests, Aceria diospyri, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera minax, Bactrocera tsuneonis, Cydia pomonella, Lobesia botrana, Proeulia sp., Solenopsis invicta, Stephanitis takeyai, from June to October in 2018. A total of 7,560 traps/visual scouting were investigated in 315 points of 105 local sites of seven regions, resulting the nine species, A. diospyri, B. dorsalis, B. minax, B. tsuneonis, C. pomonella, L. botrana, Proeulia sp., S. invicta, and S. takeyai, were not detected. From this study, we established the nationwide monitoring system which can early detect high risk insect pests and secured a bridgehead for monitoring invasive insect pests passing the border.