Three fire ant nests have been destroyed at Brendale, which sits outside the biosecurity zone

Biosecurity Queensland issues warning after fire ant nests were found outside the biosecurity zone in southeast Queensland.

Red imported fire ant nests have been found at Brendale.

BIOSECURITY Queensland has destroyed three fire ant nests at Brendale prompting warnings that more of the six-legged pests may be in the region.

The nests were detected in late August through routine surveillance along the outer edge of the current fire ant biosecurity zone.

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National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication program general manager John Jordan said residents and business operators in the region were urged to check their properties and work sites, and report any suspect ants and nests to Biosecurity Queensland.

“We need the local community to help by being our eyes on the ground, as they know their properties best,” he said.

“Please check your property and alert us to anything that could be fire ants.”

The nests were destroyed by direct nest injection with insecticide.

“Our ground crews have conducted surveillance of 30 hectares surrounding the detection with no further nests found,” Mr Jordan said.

“Genetic tracing undertaken confirmed that these fire ants are related to the existing South East Queensland population.”

Fire ants are very small. They vary in size, between 2–6 millimetres, and are coppery-brown with a dark abdomen.

They can inflict a painful sting — a sensation that your the person’s body is on fire — and are they aggressive.

Fire ant nests are mounds of loose soil with no entry or exit holes.

The ants are one of the world’s most invasive species with the potential to ruin our way of life, and have serious health and environmental impacts.

To report suspect fire ants visit daf.qld.gov.au/fireants or phone 13 25 23.