A government spokeswoman said the searches had taken place after red imported fire ants were first identified in Hamilton Parish in November. She explained: “To date, only a small number of nests have been identified and treated, with detections limited to two locations in Hamilton Parish and Hamilton commercial docks.” Sam Fraser-Smith, of PlantLab Ltd, discovered the invasive insects in Hamilton Parish last year. “Specialists from the Food and Environment Research Agency and Buglife (UK) subsequently confirmed the specimens as red imported fire ants.” The confirmed ant mounds were treated immediately to wipe out the associated colonies.