Chebucto Regional Softball Club

@futurebird @jericevans Yikes. Annoying isn't the word. Aggressive with extremely painful bites, and if the other species is worse, just extra yikes.

@futurebird European Fire Ant (Myrmica rubra):

European Fire Ant – Invasive Species Centre

European Fire Ant (Myrmica rubra) French common name: fourmi rouge Photo: E. Groden, Univeristy of Maine Photo: Gary Alpert, Bugwood.org Order: Hymenoptera Family: Formicidae  Genus: Myrmica Species: Rubra Did you know? European fire ant queens can live up to […]

Invasive Species Centre (www.invasivespeciescentre.ca)

What are European Fire Ants and how to get rid of them - Toronto | Globalnews.ca

The European Fire Ant has colonized the area behind one Newmarket family's home. So what are European Fire Ants and how do you get rid of them.

Global News (globalnews.ca)

@jericevans

@futurebird Last time I was there, the ants were swarming my feet on that landing page when I stood in place. I though it would be too wet for them. @jericevans

@futurebird @jericevans The park is mostly untouched. There are trails, then the rest is wild grasses, meadow, copses of trees & shrubs, a pond & culvert & drainage ditches, beaver dams & waterway. It's been designated a bird sanctuary, and while they have bird boxes for some species, it mostly wends around the top of a bluffs, and is a really important site during migration. I used to cut through wild areas but those are no safer than the trails. Here's the beaver dam:

Beaver Pond

(www.carolynstampeen.com)

@futurebird @jericevans I think it may be too late here, especially since I've seen no signs of the city working to contain them.

The park I no longer visit has maintained paths, but the ants are not restricted to them. I was surprised to stop by a beaver pond, damp earth, away from the trails, and have my feet covered with the things. They are so aggressive.

@jericevans I used to raise eyebrows at folk who acted fearful around red ants because the red ants of my youth were harmless. Then fire ants moved into southern Ontario. They are aggressive & horrible. Their bites for me result in huge swelling & 10 days of pain. The US should be held responsible for the illegible immigrants from their country! Climate change really sucks in many ways. I don't visit a local park anymore because of them & I wonder how they affect the critters. @futurebird

@jericevans Very cool to have taken the time to observe this. @futurebird