Red Fire Ants

In Taiwan experts have said that it might take three years to completely remove red fire ants from the capital, Taipei. Red fire ants give a painful sting which causes blisters and can sometimes result in death.

It's vicious and aggressive. When it stings you, the sharp burning sensation can last for an hour and within four hours a white blister appears. The Red Fire Ant comes from Brazil. It has spread through New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

In recent days red fire anthills have been found in the centre of the capital, and the authorities have been spurred into action. Taiwan's Premier has urged people not to panic and advised them how to protect their children. He warns it could take years to eradicate the pests. He describes this as a war of attrition.

The ants are blamed for losses of five-billion dollars in the United States each year and more than six-and-a-half-billion in Australia. Extra stocks of pesticide have been ordered by Taiwan's government. It hopes to contain the spread of the insects by the end of the year. Complete eradication, which some doubt is even possible, is likely to take much longer.

Useful words and Expressions:
Blister a painful swelling on the surface of your skin
Vicious violent and cruel
Sensation a physical feeling
Spread moved outwards to cover a large area
Anthills mounds of earth formed by ants when they are making a nest
Authorities official organisations or government departments
Spurred encouraged to do something
Premier the leader of a country's government
Urged strongly encouraged someone to do something
Eradicate destroy or remove completely
Attrition to weaken an enemy by continually attacking it
Pesticide chemical used to kill harmful insects
Contain keep a situation under control