Working with residents to undertake treatment in targeted areas
Tens-of-thousands of Queensland of residents are working with us as we undertake fire ant treatment in targeted areas. We need everyone to play an active role in managing fire ants by giving our teams access so they can treat your property.
Fire ants can have devastating consequences on our environment, economy and outdoor way of life. They also pose a serious threat to humans. At best, their stings can be painful; at worst, they can trigger a toxic, sometimes life-threatening, allergic reaction.
Our combined efforts to eradicate fire ants will give Australia the best and only chance of a future free of this invasive pest.
Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, fire ants are a category 1 restricted matter, making the pest a responsibility for all Queenslanders. We are tasked with eradicating fire ants by conducting systematic containment and treatment activities, starting outside the infestation in South East Queensland.
We need the community, industry and all levels of government to also play an active role and work with us so we can do our job as quickly as possible. You can do this by:
✔ giving our teams access to your property when they visit
✔ following the post-treatment instructions
✔ contacting us if you find a suspect ant nest.
Treatment is free.
What do I need to know?
We will conduct eradication activities on 100% of all targeted properties during the warmer months of the year. This is when fire ants tend to be more active and on the hunt for food.
All properties in the target area must be treated, whether fire ants are visible or not. Our teams are authorised to access all Queensland properties. They do not need to access your home or buildings, and they always carry Queensland Government identification. Penalties can apply if you stop our teams from doing their job.
If you have any property access issues, such as dogs, locked gates or crops, please call us on 13 25 23 or complete a 'property information form’ on our website at fireants.org.au.
Treatment method
Bait treatment is thinly distributed across backyards and garden areas as well as parklands and paddocks in one or more ways:
✔ Aircraft
✔ Utility terrain vehicle
✔ Hand spreader.
Fire ant treatment is required up to 3 times per year for 2 years — a total of 6 treatments. Any foraging fire ants collect the bait and take it back to the nest. The active ingredient/s are circulated around the colony, leading to the death of the worker ants, larvae and queens.
Fire ant treatment
The products we use as part of our planned fire ant treatment program is approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). They are safe for the environment, humans and animals.
The products are made up of small pieces of corn grit soaked in soy bean oil and infused with an active ingredient. The active ingredients are the same as those found in household pest control products such as cockroach baits, mosquito control products, and flea collars for pets.
Type of bait | Active ingredients | Typically found in | Expected results |
|---|---|---|---|
Slow-acting insect growth regulator (IGR) to make the queen infertile (main bait used) | Contain S-methoprene or pyriproxyfen | Mosquito control / dog and cat flea collars | Nest naturally dies out in 3–4 months |
Fast-acting bait | Contains indoxacarb or a combination of hydramethylon and pyriproxyfen | Cockroach baits / dog and cat flea collars | Reduction in nest activity in 1–4 weeks, and nest death soon after |
On an average suburban residential block (approximately 500 m2) up to 100 grams of bait will be used in each treatment. As the corn grits consist of 0.5% (slow-acting bait) and 0.045% (fast-acting bait) of active ingredient (IGR), minimal insecticide is distributed.
After treatment
It is critical that you do not water, mow or disturb your lawn, gardens or paddocks for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours, to allow for foraging fire ants to collect the bait.
Don’t spread fire ants
Be aware, restrictions apply to the movement of materials that could carry fire ants such as soil, mulch, manures, baled hay or straw, potted plants and turf. It is critical that we prevent fire ants settling in an area that has already been treated. Visit our website at fireants.org.au for more information.