Fire ant fears boost pesticide sales in Japan

Jul 24 (NHK) - Reports of poisonous fire ants being discovered at ports across Japan are boosting sales of pesticides.

A home improvement retailer in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward, where fire ants were found at a nearby port this month, has expanded its shelf space for pesticides.

The store's sales of these products for the week beginning July 10th were more than 10 times the figure for the same period last year. The retail chain's sales of these items have nearly doubled.

But the Environment Ministry warns that excessive use of pesticides will kill indigenous ants and make it easier for fire ants to spread.

Officials say that people who come across insects that look like fire ants should not touch them and they should immediately report the discovery to the ministry or local authorities.

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