Fight against fire ants takes to the sky

Redland City Council has taken to the sky to join the fight against the invasive fire ant.

With changes to biosecurity obligations that came into effect on 1 July, Council is now required to undertake treatment and surveillance for fire ants on Council-owned or managed land.

Drones and helicopters are being used for treatments, along with traditional methods such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) fitted with spreaders.

Mayor Jos Mitchell said Council’s role involved undertaking surveillance, suppression, and treatment of fire ants.

“Importantly, it is still everyone’s obligation to report any suspected fire ant nests to Biosecurity Queensland in the first instance, whether the location is on private or public land,” she said.

“Council will be informed of any reports to Biosecurity Queensland that are on Council-owned or managed land, to ensure relevant surveillance and treatment is carried out.

“Our officers have been exploring the suitability of helicopters and drones for fire ant treatments across larger open sites such as Council’s Recycling and Waste Transfer Stations, community parks, and wastewater treatment plants.

“From these trials, they can gather data to inform treatment schedules, efficiencies and effectiveness of different treatment methods.

“When a fire ant nest is detected in a high-risk location, the colony is destroyed at the site with fast acting bait treatment. Broadscale suppressive bait treatments are also employed as proactive treatments on many sites to reduce the risk of infestation.”

Council’s Health & Environment Unit developed a Redland City Council Fire Ant Management Program that is being delivered in support of the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP).

All products Council uses are recommended by NFAEP and are safe for humans, pets, and wildlife.

The NFAEP is one of Australia’s largest biosecurity eradication programs and involves finding, containing and destroying fire ants in south-east Queensland.

Fire ants are copper brown in colour with a darker abdomen and are quite small, 2-6mm.

They exhibit aggressive behaviour with hundreds of ants responding if a nest is disturbed. They swarm the threat, trying to sting over and over, causing the sensation of being on fire.

If you identify or suspect that there are fire ants in an area, call Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or lodge a report via their online form, go here.

More information on Council’s Fire Ant Management Program can be found at redland.qld.gov.au/FireAnts