Abstract

In this study, we report the first confirmed detection of Tetraponera rufonigra (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South Korea through international cargo. On August 3, 2024, a specimen of T. rufonigra was discovered at a logistics center in Icheon, a city in the midwestern part of the Korean Peninsula, during the inspection of cargo originating from Vietnam. The specimen was reported to the Invasive Species Reporting Center and subjected to field and laboratory investigations. A follow-up field survey on August 5, 2024, confirmed the absence of additional individuals, and disinfection measures were completed. DNA barcoding analysis identified the species as T. rufonigra. This report provides precise species-level information to support early response measures in the future.