Surveillance and invasive risk of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren in China

• Published in: Pest management science Vol. 79; no. 4; pp. 1342 - 1351
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiaoliang, Qin, Yujia, Xu, Yanling, Feng, Xiaodong, Zhao, Shouqi, Lu, Yongyue, Li, Zhihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.04.2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Annual reports; Ants; China; Climate change; Economic impact; Economic models; Environmental factors; Introduced Species; Invasive insects; Invasive species; MaxEnt; Moisture effects; pest management; Pests; red imported fire ant; Seedlings; Solenopsis invicta; Solenopsis invicta Buren; Surveillance; China; red imported fire ant; pest management; surveillance; MaxEnt; Solenopsis invicta Buren
• ISSN: 1526-498X; 1526-4998
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.7297

BACKGROUND The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren is one of the world's most successful and destructive invasive ant species. In mainland China, fast, monthly and annual pest reports on all pests have been established since 2010. The distribution of S. invicta resulting from climate change in China was predicted using MaxEnt modeling in combination with comprehensive surveillance data and 56 environmental factors. RESULTS The fast and monthly reports revealed that S. invicta had spread to new territories almost every year in this timeframe. The transportation of seedlings and deployment of turfgrass were the major artificial transmission pathways. Annual reports indicated that control efforts had effectively reduced its occurrence areas and degree of severity of infestations, and retrieved the economic loss caused by S. invicta. The MaxEnt model predicted that S. invicta would expand to 23 provinces in China as a result of climate change. Moisture variables were the key factors affecting the distribution of this pest. CONCLUSION Based on the theoretical reference framework of this research, China proposed the first‐ever integrated tactics against a single pest, jointly involving nine ministries, which include clarifying responsibilities, cutting off transmission pathways, strengthening surveillance, declaring pest distributions and conducting preventive and control campaigns. Practical efforts and measures combating the devastation of S. invicta may shed light on its management and other invasive species worldwide. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. Surveillance network and risk analysis indicated that management measures against Solenopsis invicta in China should focus on cutting off the transmission from seedling transportation and turfgrass deployment, holding joint control operations in spring and autumn, and strengthening surveillance in predicted potential high risk areas.