Japanese authorities will expand their search for poisonous fire ants following recent discoveries of the insect at ports and elsewhere in the country.
Officials of the environment and transport ministries say they will send experts to 68 ports regularly visited by ships from China, Taiwan, Australia and other places where fire ants live. They have been conducting checks at 7 ports so far.
The experts will place traps and insecticidal bait where the ant is likely to be found.
The fire ant is native to South America. It has been discovered in Japan since May, at ports in Kobe, Nagoya and Tokyo.
