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The Little Fire Ant may be small but it has a very long scientific name - Wasmannia auropunctata. It is about 1.5 mm with a light to golden brown colour. Its home is Central and South America but it has travelled far to the Pacific islands and now lives in eight of our island countries - French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.

AIM This challenge aims to help your class learn more about invasive species in your country and how they travel across the Pacific region. CHALLENGE On an A4 or A3 sheet of paper, children can write or draw about an invasive species but their entry must portray the following:   Name of the invasive species they have selected.   Information about the invasive species.   What country the invasive species came from originally and where it was before it came to your country.   How did it come to your country? For example, by plane or by boat?   Share information about where else in the Pacific islands you can find this invasive species. To help you learn more about the invasive species you could invite an expert to talk to your class on the key points above. This activity will show that your class has learnt about different invasive species, where they come from, where and how they have spread.

Every living thing in our Pacific islands environment is called biodiversity. Trees, fish, birds, mushrooms, forests and mangroves are all part of biodiversity.

Invasive species can be spread deliberately by people for food, as pets, for economic opportunity, or for planting in the garden. A few species such as the mongoose, were deliberately introduced to try and control other pests, but ended up becoming serious invasive species. Invasive species can be introduced accidently such as attaching themselves on cargo, clothing or equipment used in the field. In the marine environment, invasive species are commonly introduced through the ballast water of ships.