Fire ants found in Oakey

Business owners and residents in an area north of Toowoomba have been urged to look for and report any fire ants after nests belonging to the livestock-destroying pests were discovered.

Fire ants have been found in Oakey, northwest of Toowoomba. April 2024.

Biosecurity officers are responding after fire ant nests were found in Oakey, 28 km northwest of Toowoomba.

The copper-brown fire ant, an invasive pest, can destroy livestock, force out native ant species and reduce biodiversity, having devastating impacts on the environment.

The nests were reported to authorities on Tuesday, April 16 by a member of the public after being found at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

Biosecurity teams checked and treated the nests of Thursday, April 18 and are continuing surveillance, treatment and assessment of the extent of the infestation.

According to a statement from the fire ant eradication program, investigators are looking into compliance, tracing how the ants arrived in Oakey and how widespread the infestation is.

“Eradication activities, including intensive treatment and surveillance will occur up to 5 kilometres out from the detection site to protect the area and ensure no undetected fire ants remain,” the statement read.

Authorities are asking Oakey residents and businesses to be on alert and report any suspected nests either online at fireants.org.au or by calling 13 25 23.

Fire ants are dark reddish-brown with a darker black-brown abdomen and are from two to six millimetres long. Residents and businesses should report any sign of fire ants to the fireants.org.au or 13 25 23

“Eradicating fire ants is not easy – it will take a whole-of-community approach,” NFAEP executive program director Ashley Bacon said.

“This detection is concerning, but we do have procedures in place deal with it.

“We have managed outlier detections before, and we will do it again.”

It is the second time fire ants have been found west of the Range Crossing, with two nests found in Kleinton in June 2023.

Three months later, after checking more than 1500 properties in Kleinton and surrounds with the co-operation of the local community, no further nests were found.

The region was encouraged to remain vigilant for the ants and report any suspected nests or infestations.

Fire ants have been found in Oakey, northwest of Toowoomba. April 2024.

Fire ant nests look like mounds or patches of loose soil that have no obvious entry or exit holes.

The copper-brown ants vary between 2-6 millimetres in length and have a darker abdomen.

They inflict a painful, fire-like sting, rarely causes acute allergic reactions in humans, but do cause extensive environmental and economic damage as invasive pests.

According to the NFAEP, fire ant treatment is safe for people, animals, and the environment, having the same active ingredient as common household and agricultural pest control products.

It is approved by the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

They are attracted to disturbed soil and are known to move around with the human-assisted transportation of organic materials,

Report any suspected sightings or nests to fireants.org.au or 13 25 23.