Residents and businesses in parts of the Gold Coast hinterland are being told to be on alert after fire ants were detected in the area.
A nest was found on a property in Binna Burra on March 3, with eradication officers attending and destroying the nest using liquid insecticide the same day.
Authorities say eradication activities, including intensive treatment containing insect growth regulator and surveillance, will initially cover an area up to 500 m from the detection site to ensure any undetected fire ants are eradicated.
“Fire ant detections outside the program’s containment boundary are serious and the program has procedures in place to manage them so as to not jeopardise Australia’s eradication efforts of this global super pest,” they said.
“A habitat assessment will be carried out in the surrounding area to ensure the program’s response prioritises fire ant eradication while conserving environmental, cultural, and social values unique to Binna Burra”.
Compliance checks and tracing of equipment and materials that can carry fire ants identified on the infested site are being carried out to determine the source of the ants.
The ants can hitch rides in materials such as soil, hay, mulch, manure, quarry materials, turf, and potted plants, with human-assisted movement the biggest risk to their spread.
Authorities are urging everyone in Binna Burra and surrounding areas to:
- check their property and local area for fire ants and nests
- report their findings online or call 132 ANT (13 22 68) within 24 hours
- allow our teams access to properties to carry out eradication activities
- take steps to prevent the spread of this invasive pest.
