Originally from South America, fire ants entered the southern United States in the early 20th century as a result of lax inspection and prevention. A dearth of natural enemies made it easy for this otherwise mundane insect to march in unchecked, bringing in its wake disaster and economic loss for farmers and the environment.
原分布於南美洲的紅火蟻，在二十世紀初因檢、防疫疏失而入侵美國南方，這原本不起眼的小火蟻，因當地沒有天敵而得以長驅直入，造成美國農業、環境衛生的嚴重災害以及經濟損失。