Invasive Alien Species Argentine Ants pose threat to India Andhra Pradesh too: AP Biodiversity Board

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Invasive alien species 'Argentine ants’ are now
posing serious threat in the State. AP Biodiversity Board has called
for urgent attention of various departments of the State government as
the Argentine ants are aggressive and spreads fast and replaced the
native ants and it is difficult to control them.  They would pose
serious threat to local ecosystems. German cockroaches are already
creating havoc in the kitchens in the city.
AP Biodiversity Board chairman Dr R Hampaiah says ,"It will be
disastrous if we ignore it. Argentine ant is one of the worst 100
global invasive alien species. All departments should get ready to
fight the pest. There are some isolated reports on its presence.
Several South Asian countries are also facing severe crisis. These
invasive alien species mostly spread through shipping, cargo and
introduction of biological material without proper quarantining,”
Argentine ants are also common household pests particularly during
rainy season.
He added,”Argentine ants have once posed a multi-million dollar
pest-control problem in New Zealand. They are native to central South
America, and found in many Mediterranean and subtropical climates
around the world and now spreading to tropical climates. Native plants
depend on native ants for seed dispersal. If native plants are
replaced by the argentine ants some of the plant species will go
extinct as their reproductive mechanism will be stalled,”
Experts said that native lizards and other reptiles depend on native
ants and they will not feed on argentine ants. This will lead to
imbalance in food chain and it ultimately affects the food web.
Even in agriculture sector these ants will be protecting the pests
from predators in symbiotic relationship. Ants receive excretion of
pests ‘honeydew’ in return for protection. This leads to crop loss
affecting food security.
Dr R Hampaiah said ,”we have to scientifically work on their presence
in the state. The districts close to seaports like Vishakapatnam
forests have to be checked and a study has to be launched,”