Red fire ant imported from Queensland found in Tasmania after package intercepted in post
Red fire ant imported from Queensland found in Tasmania after package intercepted in post
Biosecurity officials launch an investigation after finding a red imported fire ant inside a package from Queensland at an Australia Post parcel centre in southern Tasmania.
First NSW and now Tassie!
I have found 2 nests in the last year on my property in South East QLD. Never been stung, but they are very aggressive.
For those who don't know, you can report Fire Ant sightings here for Queensland. They were good with getting in contact with me, and usually took around 7 days to come and treat my property.
More ways to report for other states and territories: https://invasives.org.au/our-work/invasive-insects/ants/report-ants/
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Biosecurity officials are investigating the detection of a single red imported fire ant that was found inside a package from Queensland at an Australia Post parcel centre in southern Tasmania.
The highly aggressive ants are one of the world's worst invasive pests, with their painful, venomous sting posing risks to people, animals and plants and overall biodiversity.
They have been largely eradicated in Australia through a national program, however clusters are still found in south-east Queensland and in recent weeks, the ants crossed the border into northern New South Wales.
Biosecurity Tasmania (BT) said the non-reproductive female ant was found in a package containing plant material as part of "business-as-usual surveillance operations at mail centres across the state".
BT traced the package and put extra surveillance and trapping operations in place, and is now investigating the circumstances around which the parcel was sent.
"I applaud the postal workers and Biosecurity Tasmania staff for their diligent and responsive actions to identify this incursion and the precautionary steps they are taking through additional surveillance and trapping to ensure that there are no other ants," Ms Palmer said.
The original article contains 457 words, the summary contains 184 words. Saved 60%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
I like your username!
Cheers, Mate!
These invasives have naturalized where I live. Good luck, Australia. Hydrogen Peroxide immediately after the bite helps with the itch.
They have acclimatised to Australia as well. Here's a video showing them making rafts during recent floods.