Despite the threat of North Korean missiles, seismic instability and economic malaise, a smaller but potentially fatal danger has been dominating news in Japan: the fire ant.
Concerns over the spread of the biting pest, found in Japan for the first time ever this year, have made national headlines and boosted shares in pesticide maker Fumakilla Ltd. to their highest level since the 1980s bubble economy.
The threat from fire ants intensified last week when the Environment Ministry confirmed that a queen ant had been found in the fourth infestation it discovered to date.