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Title: An overview of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Mainland China

Author
item ZHANG, RUNZHI - INST. OF ZOOLOGY, CHINA
item LI, YINGCHAO - INST. OF ZOOLOGY, CHINA
item Porter, Sanford

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2007
Publication Date: 12/1/2007
Citation: Zhang, R., Li, Y., Porter, S.D. 2007. An overview of the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Mainland China. Florida Entomologist.90(4):723-731.

Interpretive Summary: Three scientists from mainland China in cooperation with a scientist from the USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida review current research and official plans for managing the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta in mainland China. To date it has been identified in four provinces in (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian) in a total of 30 counties and districts. The total area infested by S. invicta in late 2006 was about 7,120 ha, mainly in Guangdong Province (6,330 ha). It has been predicted that most of mainland China is viable habitat for red imported fire ants, including 25 of 31 provinces. The probable northern limit of expansion reaches Shandong, Tianjing, south Henan, and Shanxi provinces. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese government have both attached the utmost importance to trying to eradicate and control the pest by establishing an 8-year eradication program (2006 to 2013). This program will play an important role in controlling S. invicta in China. The information provided in this paper will benefit scientists around the world by providing them with information about the Chinese efforts to control these serious pests. This paper will benefit Chinese scientists by allowing them to receive more informed advice from those with experience about fire ant management elsewhere in the world.

Technical Abstract: The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren is a serious invasive insect which is native to South America. Its presence was first reported in mainland China in 2005. To date it has been identified in four provinces in mainland China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian) in a total of 30 counties and districts. The total area infested by S. invicta in late 2006 is about 7,120 ha, mainly in Guangdong Province (6,330 ha). Most of the reported human stings are in the heavily infested area around Wuchuan City. The most commonly reported reactions have been erythema, papilla or hives, pain and fever. It has been predicted that most of mainland China is viable habitat for red imported fire ants, including 25 of 31 provinces. The probable northern limit of expansion reaches Shandong, Tianjing, south Henan, and Shanxi provinces. Traditional and new insecticides including the bait N-butyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide and Yichaoqing have been developed and used to control S. invicta. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese government have both attached the utmost importance to trying to eradicate and control the pest by establishing an 8-year eradication program (2006 to 2013). This program will play an important role in controlling S. invicta in China.