Invasive ants are bad news for Australia. Increasing global trade has led to the unintended transport of ants across the world. Some of these foreign ants, also called ‘tramp ants’, can create co-operative super colonies with destructive impacts unlike anything seen in Australia before.
Even in low numbers these ants hurt people, wildlife, agriculture and infrastructure, but once they build to super colony levels they can dominate large landscapes, killing, consuming or driving out everything in their path.
During our joint research project with Monash University, we found that ants, bees and wasps form half of the most environmentally harmful insect species, with ants being the most common group. Ants tend to live in extremely large societies and are easily transported, being small and highly mobile. There are many ant species that have invaded other parts of the world but are yet to reach Australia and so far eight of these invasive ant species have been rated as of potential environmental concern.
Nine harmful invasive ant species have already reached Australia, giving us a glimpse of the future if we don’t act now.
On Christmas Island yellow crazy ants have already created an ecosystem collapse by wiping out more than 15 million native crabs and damaging forests by encouraging sugar secreting scale insects and sooty moulds. Near Cairns the acid spraying yellow crazy ants have swarmed people and pets and attacked their eyes with acid.
Red imported fire ants, currently the focus of a massive eradication project in Queensland, are a major threat to human lives and the natural environment. They have very painful bites and can kill wildlife and damage crops, roads and electrical equipment. Once in large numbers they can even kill people, as has been seen overseas with over 80 deaths in southern USA so far.
Unless action is taken soon to eradicate a new invasion of Argentine ants on Norfolk Island, scientists predict a decimation of most of the island’s insects, including pollinators, damage to vegetation and flow on effects to the rest of the food web.
Firstly, we need to stop these ants arriving – good biosecurity is not cheap, but it is much cheaper than the consequences. Secondly Australia needs to properly resource programs to eradicate the invasive ants that have already arrived. The alternative is a future of widespread environmental damage and endless toxic baiting around school grounds, parks and gardens and homes that would otherwise become unusable.
We still have the opportunity to eradicate most of these invasive ants and that investment will be far cheaper than the cost and pain of living with these ants in the future.
We were instrumental in convincing governments across Australia to support the national fire ant eradication program and to secure funds to eradicate yellow grant ants in the Cairns area from threatening the Wet Tropics world heritage area. We are working closely with the Townsville City Council in the battle against yellow crazy ants in Queensland’s north.
Please consider making a donation to help us continue our work of putting pressure our governments to act on invasive ants.
Most ant invasions have been found by ordinary people who saw something unusual and reported it. If you think you may have seen invasive ants report them. In Queensland call Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. Outside of Queensland call the National Exotic Pest Hotline on 1800 884 881.
Fire ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species. They are an economic and environmental pest. And they can kill people, livestock and pets.
First-hand accounts of the impact of these acid-spitting ants on people, pets and wildlife are horrific.
We’ve joined Townsville City Council in the battle against yellow crazy ants and our community coordinator Bev Job is keen for more volunteers to get involved.
If you think you have found an invasive ant in Australia please contact your local biosecurity agency, we have listed appropriate agencies on our website.
The Invasive Species Council was formed in 2002 to seek stronger laws, policies and programs to protect nature from harmful pests, weeds and diseases.
The Invasive Species Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Australia and their connections to land and sea. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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