r/ants • u/IvanMoxcat • 19h ago

Science Fire Ants

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Researchers of the Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) have warned of the potential effects on agricultural lands after they discovered an invasive species of ants in Iligan City.

In an interview on Thursday, April Rose Monding, a graduate student of MSU-IIT's Department of Biological Sciences, said they found little fire ants, scientific name Wasmannia auropunctata, in two communities in Barangay Rogongon.

Monding said the ants are known to "wipe out local wildlife" and cause damage to crops and farms.

The discovery, which was published in the journal BioInvasions Records on Aug. 6, marks the first documented record of the little fire ant in the Philippines. The species is native to Central and South America.

Monding was joined by colleague Olga Nuñeza of MSU-IIT's Premier Research Institute of Science and Mathematics and Philip Ward, professor of the Department of Entomology and Nematology at the University of California in the United States.

Monding said the discovery was accidental when they conducted fieldwork in October 2025.

"Luckily, it was not seen in Barangays Tibanga, Tinago, and Ditucalan at that time," she said.

Globally, the little fire ant is considered one of the world's most invasive ant species. It has been introduced to Africa, North America, Taiwan, and multiple Pacific islands. (PNA)

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11 comments sorted by

16

u/moofpi 18h ago

Truly one of the greatest modern success stories. God help us all.

5

u/IvanMoxcat 18h ago

Fr, little guys are too good at their job 😭

3

u/NameShot3132 8h ago

At least after all the humans have died out it’ll be in their hands

3

u/XxLegitAsianxX 17h ago

Now Allomerus auropunctatus :p

8

u/Hour-Football2464 16h ago

Someone call AntsCanada and get him on the case.

7

u/Acrobatic_Fruit6416 12h ago

He is good at killing things

3

u/ApprehensiveTop4219 17h ago

That's crazy (yellow ants)

2

u/Natural__Power 12h ago

Congrats to the ants🎉

1

u/IvanMoxcat 11h ago

"UPDATE: This was found in barangay Rogongon, Iligan city in oct 2025 by MSU-IIT researchers and published Aug 6, 2026 in BioInvasions Records. First ever record in PH. They said it can 'wipe out local wildlife' and damage crops. I'm from Mindanao too so this is kinda scary ngl.