LAUSR

BACKGROUND The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren is one of the world's most successful and destructive invasive ant species. In mainland China, fast, monthly, and annual pest reports have been established since 2010. The distribution of S. invicta under climate change in China was predicted using MaxEnt modeling in combination with comprehensive surveillance data and 56 environmental factors. RESULTS Fast and monthly reports revealed that S. invicta had spread to new territories almost every year. The transportation of seedlings and deployment of turfgrass were the major artificial transmission pathways. Annual reports indicated that control efforts had effectively reduced its occurrence areas and severity degree and retrieved the economic loss caused by S. invicta. The MaxEnt model predicted that S. invicta would expand to 23 provinces in China under climate change. The moisture variables were the key factors affecting the distribution of this pest. CONCLUSION Based on the theoretical reference framework of this research, China proposed the first-ever integrated tactics against a single pest jointly by nine ministries, which include clarifying responsibilities, cutting off transmission pathways, strengthening surveillance, declaring pest distributions, and holding control operations. Practical efforts and measures combating the devastating S. invicta may shed light on its management and other invasive species worldwide. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.