Tiny creatures are big business: Smuggled ants worth R4,163 each on black market
While much of the world's attention is focused on the poaching of charismatic megafauna like elephants, pangolins and rhinos, a quieter, less visible crisis is unfolding beneath our feet, one involving some of the smallest animals on the planet — invertebrates.
Earlier this year, two Belgian teenagers were apprehended in Kenya with 5,000 ants in their possession. They were given a choice of paying a fine of $7,700 (R139,372) or serving a minimum 12-month prison sentence under Kenya's wildlife conservation laws.
Senior lecturer in invertebrate biology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Caswell Munyai said the global trafficking of ants, spiders, scorpions and other invertebrates, or smuggling, is complex and diverse.
'Besides being traded for food, most invertebrates are targeted for their use in traditional medicine. Also there has been a growing demand for trading arthropods targeted for the pet trade,' said Munyai.
According to Ant Authority, queen ants can cost between $20 (R362) and $60 (R1,086), depending on species and season. Rare species like the jumper jack or bull ant queens go for up to $230 (R4,163) and $120 (R2 172) respectively.
Though common pavement ants might only sell for about $27 (R489), the more exotic species, especially those from the Global South, are a hot commodity on online marketplaces, which is often illegal.
'Some of the most trafficked or well-known invertebrates involved in trading between global markets are those in the phylum mollusca, which includes snails, mussels, octopus and arthropods, such as insects, spiders,' said Munyai.
'For mollusca, they are heavily trafficked due to the high demand for seafood and their shells, which are probably used in jewellery and decorative items.'
Munyai said when it comes to arthropods, ants, spiders, stick insects and scorpions are particularly targeted.
'There has been a spike in the past decade or two, particularly involving arthropods being trafficked from countries in the Global South and sold in developed countries.'
While the motivations are diverse, some are collected for use in exotic food dishes or traditional medicine while others are sold in pet shops or online and destined for formicariums in homes far removed from their native habitats, he said.
Beyond the legal and ethical concerns, the ecological consequences of invertebrate trafficking are immense.
'Despite the obvious impact related to the disruption of the natural balance of the ecosystem where these species occur, the trade has cascading negative effects. It affects food chains, species interactions and even ecosystem service provisioning and functioning,' said Munyai.
A recent case that illustrates the problem starkly is that of an attempt to smuggle the African Harvester Ant out of Kenya last month.
Munyai said this species plays a critical role in seed dispersal, helping maintain the health of native ecosystems, and that removing such a species disrupts not only plant regeneration but also the food web.
'Spiders and scorpions that are being trafficked out of their native ecosystems have important predatory roles. They help manage pest populations which, if left unmanaged, pose serious problems to agriculture and ecosystems.'
Munyai said there can be consequences long after these creatures are sold.
'Some of these, unfortunately, become serious pests (alien invasive species). This happens when the owners or those who initially bought them no longer want them, or when they escape into the wild.'
Munyai says enforcement remains patchy.
'On paper, there are good wildlife protection laws here in South Africa and globally. But on the ground, quite a lot is happening unchecked. Most conservation attention still goes to 'charismatic' wildlife. Very few cases are reported for things like ants. That's why the Kenyan case caught so much attention — people were shocked,' Munyai said.
Despite comprising 95-97% of all known animal species, invertebrates remain vastly understudied and underfunded in conservation.
'These little things run the world. They are everywhere, from our intestines to our houses, and our fields, playing roles in pollination, pest control and nutrient cycling. Yet very little to nothing is known about the distribution patterns of our invertebrate biodiversity,' said Munyai.
According to Munyai, funding for invertebrate research pales in comparison to that for vertebrates. Conservation planning often prioritises larger animals, leaving invertebrates as an afterthought.
'We need more studies on the distribution and ecology of invertebrates. We need to increase public awareness and interest in these animals, which I hope will increase the general concern for their conservation,' said Munyai.
The recent spike in attention to the trafficking of invertebrates may be the start of a turning point. But Munyai is cautious.
'This is happening under our noses. If you look at some of our pet shops, you will know. We really need to look into what is leaving through our ports — by sea, land, or air,' he warned. 'By the time we realise this, it may be too late.'
TimesLIVE
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mail & Guardian
14 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Young, connected and exposed: Cybercriminals are preying on SA's youth
Young people's digital fluency and ambition make them vulnerable to crime. Photo: Reuters South Africa's young people are born digital but that doesn't mean they're digitally secure. As millions of young people navigate a mobile-first world, filled with peer-to-peer payments, monetised social media and digital hustles, cybercriminals drool at the nefarious possibilities it all presents. South Africa is one of the most mobile-centric nations in the world. With more than 95% of internet users in the country accessing it using smartphones, and the youth forming the bulk of this demographic, this always-online behaviour creates exposure at scale. Add in rising financial independence through mobile wallets, gig work and social commerce and you have a highly monetisable attack surface. Young people aren't just using digital tools — they're building livelihoods with them. But this blurs the line between personal, professional and financial data. And that convergence is exactly what cybercriminals love to exploit. The top cyber threats targeting South African youth are: 1. Phishing disguised as giveaways and scholarships Instagram, TikTok, X and WhatsApp groups are flooded with fake bursary ads, competitions and follower-boosting schemes — all engineered to harvest personal or banking details. 2. Fake job offers Desperate to enter the workforce, young South Africans are falling victim to scam recruiters requesting admin fees or identity documents for jobs that don't exist. These schemes also build databases for future fraud. 3. SIM swop and mobile money fraud Once criminals gain access to mobile-linked accounts, they intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) and drain wallets in seconds. In Uganda, a single SIM-swap incident caused losses of over It's not just a personal risk — it's a business one too. As young professionals enter the workforce, they bring their digital habits with them — often using the same compromised devices and passwords in the work environment. From BYOD (bring your own devices) to remote work, the line between home and corporate networks is almost non-existent for many junior staff. If a young employee's phone is compromised, your business data might already be in the wrong hands. What can be done? Individuals should use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication. They should also be cautious about app downloads and only install from official sources with ample reviews. In addition they can lock down social media and avoid sharing online their ID number, school name or the bank they're can easily happen accidentally with a bill or bank card visible in a selfie, for example. Parents need to start conversations about scams, privacy and the effect on people's mental health. They should also focus on acknowledging their children's grasp of technology to avoid making security advice seem condescending. Parents can encourage reporting – young people are often embarrassed, so create a safe space to talk. Monitor children with respect, which means using parental tools to build trust and not to spy. Employers need to educate early hires on cybersecurity basics before, rather than after enforcing mandates They too need secure BYOD policies and personal devices with strong endpoint protections. In addition, they must create a cybersafe culture because no one is too savvy to be phished. Young South Africans are not naive: they're ambitious, creative and connected. But without proper safeguards, that same ambition becomes their greatest vulnerability. Youth Month is a reminder of their potential — but potential can be devastatingly derailed if it's exploited. We need a national commitment to protecting our future by educating, equipping and empowering young people. Their success depends on it — and so does ours. Doros Hadjizenonos is the regional director of Fortinet Southern Africa.

The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Ramaphosa to meet Batohi over NPA 'infiltration' claims
'I don't believe there is state capture now under way in the NPA. I believe there are really good prosecutors, those who are putting in a lot of effort and the number of cases are being prosecuted, and including those that came out of the Zondo commission.' Justice minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said Batohi had explained she had been inundated with allegations that cases, including high-profile ones, were being deliberately sabotaged. 'But what she is worrying about is allegations of prosecutors who are working with criminal networks to sabotage cases. So we would have to deal with it case by case. 'I said to her I will engage the head of state to look at what we can do [to] investigate those individuals. That we will have to do. It's not the entirety of the institution that is affected; it's not really infiltration,' she said. Kubayi said she told Batohi she would speak to Ramaphosa about her concerns with a view to possibly launching an investigation into prosecutors accused of working with criminals to bungle cases. The meeting between Kubayi and Batohi took place days after the NPA was dealt a blow in the case against former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule when the court ruled the extradition from the US of his former PA Moroadi Cholota was invalid. This is one of several embarrassing defeats the NPA has suffered in high-profile cases, leading to concerns about the performance and preparedness of the prosecuting body when going to court. TimesLIVE

The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
One of alleged hitmen in Sindiso Magaqa murder pleads guilty
It is also alleged that millions of rand were pumped into the accounts of appointed service providers but no upgrade was done on the hall. The late ANC leader in Harry Gwala district, Mluleki Ndobe, who was a mayor, and municipal manager Zwelibanzi Sikhosana, were also arrested in connection with Magaqa's murder but their charges were later withdrawn. Ndobe committed suicide in 2020. In his guilty plea, Ncengwa said: 'I confirm that I am the accused herein and that I know and understand the charges preferred against me, which are appearing on the indictment. My legal representative has explained to me the consequences of making this statement and I fully understand it.' Ncengwa said he freely, voluntarily and without being influenced pleaded guilty to the charges against him, adding that he made admissions to the charges 'in sound and sober senses'. Ncengwa said Magaqa was shot with an AK47 rifle by his late co-accused, Jabulani Mdunge. Mdunge died in a shoot-out with police during a foiled cash-in-transit heist in September 2017.