Residents and businesses in Cotswold Hills in the Toowoomba region should be on the lookout for fire ants following a detection in the area.
The detection, located on the footpath of a recently developed site, was confirmed on 27 April 2026 by scientists from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (the program).
The program’s officers have destroyed the nest using direct nest injection. Eradication activities, including treatment and surveillance, will initially commence up to 500 m from the detection site to protect the area and ensure no undetected fire ants remain.
Fire ant detections outside the program’s containment boundary do happen occasionally and the program has robust procedures in place to manage them quickly and effectively.
Eradicating fire ants requires a whole-of-community approach. Everyone needs to:
- look for and report fire ants – within 24 hours
- complete your property information form to give program officers the details they need to complete eradication activities on your property
- take steps to prevent the spread of fire ants.
Compliance checks, along with tracing materials that can carry fire ants into the infested site, will help determine the source of the ants.
Quotes attributable to Marni Manning, General Manager, Operations, National Fire Ant Eradication Program:
'Human-assisted movement is the biggest risk for spreading fire ants. They can hitch rides in materials – such as soil, hay, mulch, manure, mining and quarry materials, turf, and potted plants – as well as on or in equipment with soil attached,' she said.
'Every Queenslander has a general biosecurity obligation to prevent biosecurity threats, including fire ants. Failing to do so can result in severe penalties, including fines of more than $500,000 or up to 3 years' imprisonment.
'Anyone moving materials and equipment from within the fire ant biosecurity zones must ensure they understand and comply with their legal obligation. Further information can be found on our website.
'Moving fire ants, whether intentionally or not, increases the risk of new infestations and threatens our national eradication efforts.'
Visit fireants.org.au or call 132 ANT (13 22 68) for more information.