Poisonous fire ants found in Busan

Members of authorities inspect a potential nest of fire ant at a harbor in the southern port city of Busan. / Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

Poisonous stinging fire ants have been found in the southern port city of Busan ― the first time the species has been detected in Korea.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency carried out an emergency inspection on Monday and sterilized the container wharfs where the ants were found.

Authorities said they had yet to find a queen ant.

Workers at a harbor found 25 fire ants on a paved road inside the wharf area on Thursday, reports say.

Quarantine authorities also found 1,000 ants near what appeared to be a nest, which was removed.

The species, native to South America, is notorious for inflicting painful, stinging bites that can lead to anaphylactic shock and death.

The “killer ants,” have also been found in Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and the U.S.

In North America, more than 100 deaths have been attributed to the ants.