This document provides a status report on invasive yellow crazy ant infestations in the Townsville area and options for their management. It arose from a roundtable meeting held in Townsville in November 2019.
Yellow crazy ant is a highly invasive ant species and one of IUCN’s 100 Worst Invasive Alien Species.
They have caused widespread damage in other parts of the world when they form highly cooperative supercolonies and reach high densities. They impact on ground dwelling invertebrates, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles and tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and human health.
Based on current information there remains an opportunity to eradicate yellow crazy ants from the Townsville area provided there are greater resources, improved coordination and adoption of best practice treatment methods.
Achieving successful eradication of yellow crazy ants from Townsville is a wise and cost-effective investment. It will protect many threatened native species and conservation areas in North and Far North Queensland, including the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and islands within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It will also prevent impacts to agriculture, tourism and infrastructure and the social amenity of those living in the region.