27 September, 2023
Keep alert for fire ants: wanted dead, not alive
Following the discovery of fire ants at Kleinton in June this year, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program is urging residents to be on the lookout for the insect.
Program Executive Ashley Bacon from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program said the invasive pest has no place in the local area.
“Fire ants are dangerous and if left to spread could have devastating impacts in the region, Queensland and Australia,” Mr Bacon said.
“They can negatively impact our outdoor lifestyle and damage our agriculture and tourism sectors—it’s critical that we do everything we can to protect these industries and our way of life.”
The warmer months are when fire ants increase their foraging activity, which increases the opportunity for them to collect the all-important eradication treatment granules.
Check your backyards, local parks, road verges and paddocks for signs of fire ants and let the National Fire Ant Eradication Program know if you spot any suspect ant nests.
This can be done online at fireants.org.au or by calling 13 25 23.
Fire ants are attracted to warm, open spaces and usually found in areas such as lawns, garden beds, near water sources, along roadsides, and in newly developed areas.
Nests can appear as dome-shaped mounds or be flat patches of loose soil with no obvious entry or exit holes.
Fire ants swarm when they attack, and victims are usually stung repeatedly leading to inflamed sores.
Fire ants can be reported anytime at fireants.org.au or by calling 13 25 23.
