How to report fire ants

Fire ants are a dangerous, invasive pest that can quickly spread.

We need you to report suspected sightings immediately.

What to look for

Nests are usually dome-shaped mounds with no obvious entry or exit holes.

Fire ants are small, copper-brown in colour and range from 2mm to 6mm in size.

Learn how to identify fire ants and nests to see photos, detailed descriptions and comparisons to other ants found in Australia.

How to report

What to include

To help us quickly identify fire ants, please provide:

  • a description of the ants (physical traits and behaviours) and nests. If you're reporting over the phone, we'll ask you questions to help you identify the ants
  • photos or video of the ants and nests
  • location of nests or ants – the address and access information (e.g. locked gates or animals)
  • details if people or animals were stung
  • your contact information in case we need to check any other details.

Safety guidelines

Don't touch the ants or nests with your hands. Fire ants are highly aggressive and will swarm to protect the nest.

Only take photos or video if it's safe to do so. If it's safe, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, boots and gloves. Use a long stick to poke the nest, then step back and watch the ants emerge.

Exercise extreme caution if you have a medical condition or if children, pets or vulnerable people are nearby. You can make a report without providing photos or video. Your safety is more important.

Submit your report

Report fire ants and nests by either:

For sightings in New South Wales contact the NSW Government.

Track your Queensland report

You can track the status of your fire ant report after submitting.

Step 1: Find your ANT reference number

After submitting your report, you'll receive an email from us that includes your ANT reference number.

ANT reference numbers are:

  • 15 characters in length
  • a mix of numbers and letters
  • start with the prefix ANT.

For example: ANT-012345-A6B7C8.

If you can't find your ANT reference number, give us a call on 13 22 68 (132 ANT).

Step 2: Use the fire ants report tracker

Enter your ANT reference number into the online tracker and press the 'Track' button.

Opening the tracker will take you away from this page.

Track your report.

Next steps