Residents were on Thursday evening urged to immediately report any encounter with invasive red imported fire ants to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Noel Tawatao, a fire ant specialist of British-based Fera Sciences Ltd, emphasised the “serious” concerns the species can create for the environment during a public information session at the Bermuda College.

It came after three mounds of the ants, Solenopsis invicta, had been located at Hamilton Parish and wiped out last month.

Mr Tawatao said based on the reports he received and his knowledge of the lifestyle of the ant, “Bermuda acted in a timely manner” in addressing the specie’s presence on the island.

“That was a good definition of rapid response, if they [the DENR] didn’t do anything I don’t now what the situation would be,” he said, adding: “Hopefully there is no additional fire ant here.”

He said based on the information he received — including photographs — the species was in a matured colony.

He also believed that they were present on the island for three to four months prior to their recent discovery.

The insects, which can cause painful stings and are known to disrupt electrical communications networks, are considered among the most destructive invasive species in the world.

Mr Tawatao told attendees that the ant “is the most destructive and one of the most aggressive” of the two groups of fire ant families.

“A lot of studies show that they have serious impacts,” he said of the species, adding: “They are a big to threat to biodiversity and they displace native species.”

Another threat is that they can increase the population of pests such as mealy bugs and he said the species can also cause damages to public infrastructure such as electrical wiring.

They can also pose a public health hazard given the dangers attributed to their sting.

Mr Tawatao told attendees that if one believes he or she was stung by the species, it should be reported to the DENR.

If the ant’s presence is confirmed, it should be eradicated immediately using recommended pesticides or by simply pouring “hot boiled water” into the nest.

Mr Tawatao said: “In controlling or eradicating fire ants always remember that our target is the queen — not just the workers — because the queen is responsible for laying eggs.”

A north to south and east to west survey should then be conducted of the area to ascertain if any other mounds are in the vicinity and he said this requires the co-operation of residents.

“This is why trainings or forums like this is very important because if we don’t want invasive species, we need the co-operation of everybody,” he told the gathering of about three dozen residents.

“In tackling invasive species, it is not the sole responsibility of the department of the Government because everyone is responsible, “he added.

There has not been any information on how the species made it onto the island but Mr Tawatao said there are several ways in which they can be introduced to a country.

They include transportation via contaminated soil, in potted plants or in compost.

They can also be carried in containers used in the shipping industry and packaging materials such as pallets.

He said on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the species was said to have been introduced via logs which washed up on the shore from the mainland of Indonesia.

The species can also be transported by animals such as in the feathers of birds.

The ant thrives in sandy or granulated soil but Mr Tawatao said luckily for Bermuda the layers are a bit “clayish” or wet and as such they could not penetrate the soil deeper.

The red imported fire ant can create colonies of over 10,000 members and Mr Tawatao said “anything that comes their way they are going to eat them”.

He said the species attack or swarm as “they move very fast, like fire” hence, he noted the name which was given to the species.

The species is native to South America and was discovered in 1972 by William Buren in an open area.

It was subsequently introduced to the United States and later, the Caribbean and parts of Central America and Asia.

It was also found in Australia and parts of New Zealand and Mr Tawatao said the latter was the only country which managed to eradicate the fire ant.

In Bermuda, he said there are two common other species of ant, one of which is the “big headed ant” and another called the “trap jaw ant”.

However, unlike those, he said the sting produced by the red imported fire ant is more pronounced.

At Thursday night’s forum, a resident said based on the presentation made by Mr Tawatao, he believed he encountered the species in the Hamilton Parish area. The DENR was expected to examine the area.

According to Mark Outerbridge, senior biodiversity officer at the department, the unit plans to increase public awareness of the species.

Short videos will be published online and the DENR plans to engage the public more on the presence of the ant on the island.