Red imported fire ants in Hong Kong.

The recent discovery of Solenopsis invicta Buren, also known as the red imported fire ant (RIFA), in the Guangdong Province of China and subsequently in Hong Kong has sparked interest in this unusual aspect of medical entomology among the general population. As S invicta is an imported and invasive species, local medical practitioners, government officials, and the public at large are generally unfamiliar with the clinical and public health significance of this insect. Consequently, a number of uncertainties and misconceptions arose during the early stages of this incident.