Tropical fire ants discovered for first time at Narita

July 16, 2018

The Japan Times is carrying a Japanese environmental ministry report that tropical fire ants have been found at Narita International Airport for the first time.

Last week, five to six of the ants were found around air cargo from Mumbai. About 60 more were discovered the following day after the cargo was opened. All were worker ants and later exterminated. No injuries or bites were reported.

By the weekend, the Times is reporting that the airport’s operator, Narita International Airport Corporation, placed traps in 25 areas as a precaution to determine whether any more had made their way onto the premises in Chiba Prefecture.

The tropical fire ant is less venomous than red fire ant that has been making its way to Japan via sea freight. However, their bites remain painful and can, in rare cases, cause people to go into shock.

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.