Society

Venomous ants likely take root in Japan, could spread: research body

Oct 17 (Kyodo) - Venomous fire ants could spread in Japan, as the recent discovery of about 50 queen ants at a Tokyo port suggests the invasive alien insect from South America has likely taken root, according to an analysis by a national research institute.

Some 50 queens with wings, more than 300 fire ant workers and larvae were found in a colony on Oct. 7 at the Aomi container terminal in the Port of Tokyo, according to the Environment Ministry.

The discovery indicates fire ants, which could harm local ecosystems and kill people through severe allergic reactions after stings, have likely settled down at the port and may have dispersed to other areas, according to the National Institute for Environmental Studies.

"Swift and thorough research should be conducted in extended areas, taking into account the worst case scenario, in which they have spread to other areas," said Koichi Goka, head of the Ecological Risk Assessment and Control Section of the institute that has been involved in invasive species control.

Since queens are usually born six to 12 months after a colony is built, the colony at the port is likely to have been built more than a year ago, Goka said.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

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