Native ant species do not exist on the island of Maui, the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. However, one ant, the little fire ant (LFA or Wasmannia auropunctata) has recently appeared in the region, being discovered on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1999. As a result, the LFA is a serious impending threat to Pacific biodiversity. The invasion of LFAs provides an ideal story problem for a series of lessons designed in the Japanese lesson study (JLS) style. Using this approach, students use problem-solving techniques and work collaboratively as they study LFAs and learn about environmental unity, evolution, and integrated pest management.