European Fire Ant

Myrmica rubra — the European fire ant — is one of the most consequential invasive ants in northern North America in the 21st century. Native to Europe (where the species is widespread but not particularly invasive in its native range), Myrmica rubra was accidentally introduced to North America in the early 1900s in shipped horticultural plants. The species remained obscure for most of the 20th century, but populations have exploded since the 2000s, particularly in the northeastern US (Maine, Massachusetts, New York), eastern Canada (Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes), and the Pacific Northwest (where Metro Vancouver has been a major recent invasion focus since the late 2000s). Workers are 4-5 mm long, reddish-brown, and form massive interconnected supercolonies (sometimes spanning multiple residential lots) that exclude virtually all other small soil arthropods from infested ground. The sting is sharp and burning — comparable to the imported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) for pain intensity per sting, though Myrmica colonies are much smaller. Documented severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis have occurred in sensitized individuals. The species' impact on Metro Vancouver outdoor life has been substantial: heavily infested residential properties become difficult to use for outdoor recreation, landscaping installation costs increase as workers find and disturb the supercolonies, and pet outdoor activity is disrupted. The Wild Pest service area encounters M. rubra as a continuing top-priority residential pest issue across multiple Metro Vancouver municipalities.