Information on Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA),
a designated Invasive Alien Species

if you think it's a Red Imported Fire Ant(RIFA)
if you think it's a Red Imported Fire Ant(RIFA)

If you think it’s a Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA)

Inquiries on Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA)

Please contact the RIFA Desk at the Ministry of the Environment or the environmental department of your local government.

■ If you think it’s a Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) ...

If there are only a few ants:
Kill them with spray insecticide
  • If you need to determine whether it’s a RIFA, call the RIFA Desk or your local government. Send a photo of the ants and follow the instructions (bring or mail the dead ant).
  • Never touch the ant, even if it is dead.
  • Wrap the dead ant in cotton for identification. Do not attach it to adhesive tape.
If you find an ant colony or nest:
Never disturb them. Contact the RIFA Desk or local government immediately.
  • Do not poke or step on the ants or nest. Do not spray insecticide or pour hot water over them.
  • Consult a specialist for proper extermination depending on the conditions.
  • Do not use poison bait until the ant is identified as RIFA. The poison would kill native ants and other species, changing the environment and making it easier for RIFA to establish themselves.

If you think it’s a Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA), please contact:

Chatbot is now available to answer questions 24/7:

Ann

  • Click the Chatbot window at the bottom right corner.
  • Ally will answer your questions.

Note 1: The Chatbot is not designed to surely identify the species.

Note 2: If the ant is probably RIFA or in an emergency, do not use Chatbot but call the authorities.

Note 3: Please consult a local clinic if you get stung or are in doubt.

Environmental department of each prefecture

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Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Hokkaido
Biodiversity Conservation Division, Environment Bureau, Department of Environment and Residential Life
011-231-4111(switchboard)
Aomori Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Public Affairs
017-722-1111(switchboard)
Iwate Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life,
019-651-3111(switchboard)
Miyagi Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
022-211-2111(switchboard)
Akita Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
018-860-1111(switchboard)
Yamagata Prefecture
Nature Division, Department of Environment and Energy
023-630-2211(switchboard)
Fukushima Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
024-521-1111(switchboard)
Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Ibaraki Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
029-301-1111(switchboard)
Tochigi Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment and Forestry
028-623-2323(switchboard)
Gunma Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment and Forestry
027-223-1111(switchboard)
Saitama Prefecture
Nature Division, Department of Environment
048-824-2111(switchboard)
Chiba Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
043-223-2110(switchboard)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Natural Environment Division, Department of Natural Environment, Bureau of Environment
03-5321-1111(switchboard)
Kanagawa Prefecture
Natural Environment Conservation Division, Department of Natural Affairs, Environment and Agricultural Bureau
045-210-1111(switchboard)
Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Niigata Prefecture
Environmental Planning Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
025-285-5511(switchboard)
Toyama Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Residential Life, Environment and Culture
076-431-4111(switchboard)
Ishikawa Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
076-225-1111(switchboard)
Fukui Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Safety and Environment
0776-21-1111(switchboard)
Yamanashi Prefecture
Nature Division, Department of Forest and Environment
055-237-1111(switchboard)
Nagano Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment
026-232-0111(switchboard)
Gifu Prefecture
Environmental Planning Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
058-272-1111(switchboard)
Shizuoka Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Environment Bureau, Department of Residential Life and Environment
054-221-2455(switchboard)
Aichi Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment
052-961-2111(switchboard)
Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Mie Prefecture
Nature Conservation Promotion Division, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
059-224-3070(switchboard)
Shiga Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Lake Biwa and Environment
077-528-3993(switchboard)
Kyoto Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment
075-451-8111(switchboard)
Osaka Prefecture
Nature Planning Division, Nature Promotion Office, Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
06-6941-0351(switchboard)
Hyogo Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Environment Planning Bureau, Department of Agriculture and Environment
078-341-7711(switchboard)
Nara Prefecture
Landscape and Natural Environment Division, Bureau of Landscape and Environment, Department of Residential Life Creation
0742-22-1101(switchboard)
Wakayama Prefecture
Environmental and Residential Life Affairs Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
073-432-4111(switchboard)
Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Tottori Prefecture
Rich Natural Environment Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
0857-26-7111(switchboard)
Shimane Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
0852-22-5111(switchboard)
Okayama Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment and Culture
086-224-2111(switchboard)
Hiroshima Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
082-228-2111(switchboard)
Yamaguchi Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
083-922-3111(switchboard)
Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Tokushima Prefecture
Environmental Capital Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
088-621-2500(switchboard)
Kagawa Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Forestry
087-831-1111(switchboard)
Ehime Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Environment Bureau, Department of Residential Life and Environment
089-941-2111(switchboard)
Kochi Prefecture
Environment Conservation Division, Department of Forestry Promotion and Environment
088-823-1111(switchboard)
Prefecture
Responsible department
Contact number
Fukuoka Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment
092-651-1111(switchboard)
Saga Prefecture
Ariake Sea Regeneration and Natural Environment Division, Department of Residential Life and Environment
0952-24-2111(switchboard)
Nagasaki Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment
095-824-1111(switchboard)
Kumamoto Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Residential Life
096-383-1111(switchboard)
Oita Prefecture
Department of Residential Life and Environment
097-536-1111(switchboard)
Miyazaki Prefecture
Natural Environment Division, Department of Environment and Forestry
0985-26-7111(switchboard)
Kagoshima Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment and Forestry
099-286-2111(switchboard)
Okinawa Prefecture
Nature Conservation Division, Department of Environment
098-866-2333(switchboard)

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