Eradication treatment

To treat your property, we use various methods:

  • drones, helicopters and airplanes for properties larger than 5 hectares—this is the quickest and most cost-efficient method for larger areas
  • utility terrain vehicles for properties smaller than 5 hectares
  • handheld treatment spreaders for urban properties, around buildings and near water ways.

Fire ant eradication treatment happens throughout the year, depending on the weather.

Our teams work from Monday to Saturday between 7am and 3pm.

Our aircraft pilots work 7 days a week between 7am and 4pm.

On the day

On treatment day, our on-ground staff will arrive at your property. Please allow them access to your property to carry out their work.

For urban properties, our eradication officers will load fire ant treatment granules into handheld spreaders to treat around your home, buildings, gardens, and waterways.

If your property will get aerial treatment, our pilots will load fire ant treatment granules onto the aircraft. Airplanes and helicopters use a hopper, while drones have a container attached.

Our pilots then distribute the treatment according to the property treatment plan. They work with staff on the ground to observe any livestock. If animals become unsettled, the pilots will move the aircraft away. Then, our officers will treat any missed areas using drones, handheld spreaders or utility terrain vehicles. They will also treat around your home, buildings, gardens, green spaces, and waterways.

After treatment

Fire ant treatment takes time to work. To give it the best chance of success, do not:

  • disturb or mow the treated area for 48 hours, including crops, paddocks, gardens, and lawns
  • water or irrigate the treated area for 48 hours
  • let poultry roam for 24 hours after treatment, so the ants have time to collect the treatment granules
  • move materials that may carry fire ants such as soil, baled hay, straw, mulch, green waste, manure, potted plants, and turf.