video: Students observe the characteristic behavior of Argentine ants by placing their hands near an Argentine ant nest during a field monitoring survey in Okayama City.
Credit: Okayama University of Science
Professor Takahiro Murakami of the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science at Okayama University of Science, widely known in Japan for his research on ants and nicknamed “Ant Guy” conducted a monitoring survey of the invasive Argentine ant near Sakura Bridge in Naka Ward, Okayama City, on April 28. Nine graduate students participated in the field survey as part of the Graduate School course “Advanced Studies in Wildlife Science.”
According to Professor Murakami, Argentine ants do not possess venom like red imported fire ants, but their remarkable reproductive capacity allows them to disrupt native ecosystems. In Japan, the species has already become established mainly along coastal regions stretching from Tokyo to Yamaguchi Prefecture.
During the survey, the group discovered an Argentine ant nest near one of the bridge piers. Professor Murakami demonstrated the ants’ characteristic rapid movement by placing his hand close to the nest so students could observe their behavior firsthand. Unlike many native Japanese ant species, Argentine ants move extremely quickly, readily climb onto a person’s hand, and bite, although the bites are not especially painful. A video released by the research team allows viewers to observe the ants’ distinctive movements in detail.
Professor Murakami explained that his long-term goal is the complete eradication of Argentine ants within Okayama City over the next decade through careful and targeted pesticide application aimed specifically at the invasive species.
About Professor Takahiro Murakami
Professor Takahiro Murakami joined Okayama University of Science in April 2024 and is one of Japan’s leading ant researchers, specializing in leafcutter ants. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1971, he graduated from Ibaraki University and earned his doctorate from Hokkaido University. Since 1993, he has conducted field research on leafcutter ants in Panama.
His research focuses on the evolution of agriculture in ants, division of labor within colonies, reproductive strategies, and communication among ants. He has also conducted extensive studies on invasive ant species, including Argentine ants and red imported fire ants, with the goal of developing effective control methods and understanding their ecological impacts.
Professor Murakami is also known for his recent work exploring ant communication systems, sometimes described as attempts to understand the “language” of ants. His recent book is Ant Guy: Exploring the Talkative World of Ants, published by Fusosha.