A nightmare of Argentine Fire Ants floats serenely above the flood waters near Port Arthur, Texas.
The Argentine Fire Ant is now a global invasive species. Australia is trying to head off colonization, as is Japan, where the first queen was reported earlier this year. The Argentine Fire Ant has also spread to South Africa, Easter Island, Europe, Hawaii, and China. In New Zealand, it appears the Fire Ant is disappearing without any human intervention. The reason is not entirely know, but one theory is that low genetic diversity within the New Zealand population has resulted in less disease resistance.
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