15 July 2024: Teams from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program will return to the Sunshine Coast today after a new detection in Currimundi.
A member of the public reported several nests at a Sunshine Coast Recreation Precinct on Friday, 12 July, with initial surveillance and treatment conducted that same day. The program’s eradication officers found 3 nests.
The ants were confirmed as fire ants this morning (15 July).
Samples of the ants found have been taken and compliance and tracing activities are underway to determine how the ants arrived in the area.
Eradication activities, including intensive treatment and surveillance will occur up to 5 km out from the detection site to protect the area and ensure no undetected fire ants remain.
Residents and businesses in Currimundi are encouraged to check their properties and local area for suspect nests or ants immediately and report them at fireants.org.au or by calling 13 25 23.
Fire ants are copper brown in colour and have a darker abdomen. They measure 2–6 mm in length with a variety of sizes found in each nest. Fire ant nests appear as mounds or patches of loose soil and have no clear entry or exit holes.
Fire ant nests become more visible in colder months and after rain. This is because the ants tend to build their nests higher to regulate the nest temperature in cooler weather.
Fire ants are attracted to disturbed materials such as soil, hay and landscaping products and can be transported through the human-assisted movement of organic materials. This is the biggest risk to their spread.
Visit fireants.org.au for more information.