Potted plant fire ant management

We wish to respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land and pay our respects to Elders both past and present.

Now, let's start at the beginning. Fire ants are small insects measuring only two to six millimetres in size. They have a coppery brown body and a dark abdomen. These ants are known for their aggressive nature and quick reaction times. Unlike other ant species, fire ant nests do not have distinct entry or exit holes.

Fire ants are an invasive pest in Australia and pose a significant threat to businesses, the environment, and the way of life. They are voracious and prolific, meaning they consume large amounts of food and reproduce rapidly.

One of the concerning aspects is that fire ants have no natural predators in Australia, allowing them to multiply and spread unchecked. They are also highly resourceful in finding ways to expand their territory. Fire ants can spread through various means, such as flying up to five kilometres, rafting on floodwaters, and hitchhiking in materials. However, the most impactful way they spread, facilitated by humans, is by hitchhiking in materials like potted plants. Unintentionally transporting a single nest in materials can lead to undetected multiplication in a new area, posing significant challenges for eradication efforts.

Now, on this map, there are two key aspects to highlight. Firstly, the impact of the fire ant eradication program in slowing down the expansion of fire ants across Australia. In the middle of the map, you can see the current fire ant biosecurity zones, and surrounding them are rings depicted in shades of blue, brown, and grey. These rings illustrate how, without the program, fire ants would have already spread beyond Bowen, Longreach, and Canberra. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the eradication efforts in containing their spread and preventing further infestations.

Secondly, it is important to recognise the remarkable reproductive ability of fire ants. Data from the United States indicates that their spread rate is around 50 kilometres per year, while in China, the rate of spread is currently higher at 80 kilometres per year. That’s a lot of ground to cover, so that’s why in South East Queensland, where the spread is only five kilometres per year, we believe this is a significant achievement in minimising their expansion—unparalleled by any other country.

Due to the potential role of human-assisted movement in the spread of fire ants, the Queensland Government has implemented regulations to control the movement of materials that can potentially spread this pest. The movement of nursery stock is specifically addressed through various biosecurity legislation. These regulations primarily focus on movements within Queensland and movements interstate.

For movements within Queensland, they are triggered when potted plants are sourced from the fire ant biosecurity zones. A business must comply by following the general biosecurity obligation and the Queensland biosecurity regulation.

For movements interstate, there are two aspects. If potted plants are sourced from the fire ant biosecurity zones, they must also comply with Queensland’s rules. Additionally, if they are dispatched from an area classified as the interstate plant quarantine zone, they must comply with the requirements of the receiving state or territory when they are entering with potted plants from a fire ant zone.

As you can see, these are two different focus areas, which means two different quarantine maps and two different sets of requirements. Now, to explain this further, I would like to invite our expert Jonathan Wills, a fire ant program compliance officer, who will explain the rules governing the movement of potted plants sourced from fire ant biosecurity zones to various locations in Queensland.

Jonathan:
Thanks, Herman. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Jonathan Wills. I’m with the compliance team within the program, and I’ll be talking about movement within Queensland.

All Queenslanders have what’s called a general biosecurity obligation. There will be more information on this in the next slide, but in a nutshell, it means taking all reasonable and practical measures to minimise or prevent the spread of fire ants.

One way to achieve this is by understanding what fire ants are, how they behave, and what they look like above ground. You can access training on this through the fireant.org.au website. Use the resources available, and if you're unsure about anything, make a call to clarify. When conducting on-site inspections, keep records and ensure you're meeting your general biosecurity obligation as well as your due diligence under Section 28 of the Act.

You also have an obligation under the regulation to report any suspected fire ants within 24 hours. Follow fire ant-safe storage requirements, apply chemicals or treatments if necessary before movement, and comply with movement restrictions.

Next slide, please, Herman.

Under the Biosecurity Act, as I mentioned, you have a general biosecurity obligation to manage biosecurity risks and threats under your control that you're aware of and are expected to know about. This means reporting any detections, which can be done online at fireants.org.au or by calling the number on the screen.

Be aware of the fire ant biosecurity zones, as they change. Be aware of materials that can harbour fire ants, inspect materials frequently, and take action if needed.

Next slide, please, Herman.

This diagram illustrates the current biosecurity zones. As mentioned, they can change, so it’s important to check the fireant.org.au website for updates.

Biosecurity Zone 1 is out west, where eradication treatments have been carried out over the last five years. Biosecurity Zone 2, towards the east, is the grey area where suppression treatments are ongoing. Both zones cover nine local government areas. Any individuals or businesses working with materials that could carry fire ants must follow the regulations that apply within these zones.

Next slide, please.

These are the most commonly moved fire ant carrier materials. Carrier materials are defined in Schedule 11 of the regulation and under Section 17 of the Act. They include plant derivatives, animal derivatives, quarrying or mining products, and derivatives of those processes. Soil, specifically unprocessed soil excavated during earthworks, is also included. Green waste is also defined, although it is less commonly moved in bulk.

Next slide, please, Herman.

Now, specifically addressing nursery stock—potted plants can be stored off the ground in a way that allows for underside inspections and proper coverage. If stored uncovered, fire ants could fly in and infest the material. There should also be no bridging material allowing fire ants to reach the stored stock.

Next slide, please.

When storing potted plants on the ground, they must be placed on a fire ant-resistant surface, such as concrete, bitumen, or a minimum 200-micron thick plastic sheet. If stored on the ground, a perimeter treatment of bifenthrin must be applied in a 30-centimetre-wide strip.

Next slide, please.

If potted plants cannot be covered or placed on a fire ant-resistant surface, they must be chemically treated. There are four approved chemicals: bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, and beta-cyfluthrin. Some can be used as liquid drenches and dips, others as granular insecticides mixed into potting media. Liquid bifenthrin treatment provides 28 days of protection, while cyfluthrin treatments last only 72 hours.

Next slide, please, Herman.

To summarise, recent detections have shown that fire ants can and do live in potted plants. A detection of a fire ant queen was made in a consignment of potted plants sent from Queensland to Victoria. Other compliance checks have also found mature fire ant nests in potted plants that were for sale. Without intervention, these could have been sold and moved anywhere in Queensland or interstate. This highlights the importance of proper biosecurity practices.

Now, I’ll hand it back to you, Herman.

Herman:
Thank you, Jonathan. Please remember, you can submit questions in the meeting chat for the Q&A session. You can also reach the compliance team via our call centre at 132523 or through our website’s contact form.

Now, I would like to welcome David Iles, Principal Biosecurity Officer for Plant Biosecurity and Product Integrity, who will explain the requirements for moving potted plants interstate.

David:
Thanks, Herman. Alright, so Jonathan has done an excellent job in describing what you need to do inside Queensland.

Now, if you want to move potted plants to another state, the process is fairly simple, or at least we hope so. There are two key things you need to do.

First, you must meet all the requirements for moving risk material within Queensland. Jonathan has already covered that, so you need to ensure you comply with the Queensland biosecurity regulations.

Second, you need to meet the entry requirements of the receiving state. These are not Queensland regulations but rather the regulations set by the state you’re sending the plants to. Queensland has fire ants; other states don’t—and they certainly don’t want them. That’s why each state has slightly different entry requirements.

At this stage, most states require some form of chemical treatment.

So, what does that mean? Let’s take a closer look.

Next slide, please, Herman.

So, you’ve decided to meet the entry requirements for the receiving state. What do you need to do?

First, contact the receiving state. Call them, describe what you're sending, and check what entry requirements they have. Their details are available on their websites. We cannot act as biosecurity inspectors for every state—we can’t track 5 different states and territories’ requirements at all times. These rules do change slightly, and if we provide incorrect information, there could be serious consequences.

So, get in touch with the receiving state, confirm the requirements, and get everything in writing if possible. Then, speak to us, and we can guide you through the process.

The second thing you need is a biosecurity certificate. This is a legal document declaring that the conditions set by the receiving state have been met. It’s essential.

Please do not send potted plants to another state without certification. Just because you comply with Queensland’s regulations does not mean you comply with the interstate requirements. Contact us, and we will help you navigate this process.

Now, on the second point on the slide, you’ll see a mention of the Interstate Plant Quarantine (IPQ) zone. There are some differences between the IPQ zone and the fire ant biosecurity zones, and I’ll explain that now.

Next slide, please, Herman.

This large yellow area on the map is the Interstate Plant Quarantine (IPQ) zone. Each of the yellow circles represents a five-kilometre radius from a fire ant detection.

This zone is different from the Queensland fire ant biosecurity zones but is based on the locations of known fire ant detections. The interstate quarantine regulations are designed to prevent the spread of fire ants to other states, so these rules are stricter.

If you are inside the IPQ zone, you must meet both Queensland’s regulations and the entry requirements of the receiving state. If you are outside the IPQ zone—in the white area of the map—you still need to contact the receiving state to confirm their requirements.

Queensland can provide an Area Freedom Certificate stating that fire ants are not present in the white area, but the receiving state may require additional actions.

Regardless of your location, call the receiving state first, then speak with us to help you meet the necessary requirements.

Next slide, please.

Right, so you’ve spoken to the receiving state, and they’ve told you that you need a biosecurity certificate. How do you get one?

There are three ways:

We can inspect your site. Our officers can visit and verify that your consignment meets the requirements.
You can become an accredited certifier. This allows you to issue your own biosecurity certificates under an Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) arrangement, such as ICA-39. This accreditation requires training, proper record-keeping, and compliance with strict protocols, but it allows for greater flexibility.
You can work through an industry accreditation scheme. This option is available through industry bodies and allows businesses to meet biosecurity requirements through an approved framework.
Next slide, please, Herman.

So, how do you choose the best certification option?

It depends on factors such as cost, frequency of shipments, and flexibility.

If you move potted plants every day, it may be expensive for us to visit your site daily. In that case, getting your own accreditation under ICA-39 may be more cost-effective.

If you need flexibility—such as moving shipments at 6 a.m. or on weekends—having your own accreditation allows you to issue certificates without waiting for an inspector.

However, if you only move plants occasionally, it may be more practical to arrange an inspection with us rather than going through the accreditation process.

In summary, choose the certification option that best fits your needs. There are fees involved, so be sure to discuss the costs with us.

That’s all from me—thank you, everyone.

Herman:
Thank you, David.

As you can see, I’m now sharing the details of the receiving states that may have specific entry requirements. As mentioned by David, you should contact them directly to confirm their requirements.

Now, we’ll move on to the Q&A session. If you have any questions, please submit them in the chat, and we’ll go through them now.

Moderator:
Alright, we have a few questions coming in. The first one is for Jonathan.

Question:
"How often do I need to check for fire ants if I’m storing potted plants in a biosecurity zone?"

Jonathan:
Great question. If you're storing potted plants within a fire ant biosecurity zone, you should conduct regular inspections. Ideally, you should check for fire ants at least every 21 days and also 24 hours before moving the plants. This is to ensure there are no nests forming in your stockpiles. Keeping records of these inspections is important to demonstrate compliance.

Moderator:
Thanks, Jonathan. The next question is for David.

Question:
"If I’m moving plants interstate, do I need to get approval every time, or can I get an ongoing permit?"

David:
That depends on how frequently you move plants. If you occasionally send potted plants interstate, you can request a one-off biosecurity certificate for each consignment. However, if you regularly move plants interstate, it’s recommended that you become accredited under ICA-39 or a similar certification arrangement. This allows you to issue certificates without needing an inspector for every shipment.

Moderator:
Got it. Next question is about compliance.

Question:
"What happens if I accidentally move fire ants in potted plants?"

Jonathan:
If fire ants are moved to a new location in non-compliant material, it can have serious consequences. You are legally required to report any suspected fire ant infestations within 24 hours. Failure to do so can result in penalties under the Biosecurity Act 2016. More importantly, it can lead to fire ants spreading to areas that were previously unaffected, making eradication efforts much harder.

Moderator:
Thanks, Jonathan. Here’s another question.

Question:
"What is the penalty for not following fire ant movement restrictions?"

Jonathan:
Penalties vary depending on the severity of the breach. Under the Biosecurity Act 2016, non-compliance with movement controls can result in significant fines or even legal action. Businesses can face fines of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and individuals can also be penalised. Keeping detailed records of inspections, treatments, and compliance measures is the best way to avoid issues.

Moderator:
Thank you. We have another question for David.

Question:
"How do I know if my property is inside a fire ant biosecurity zone?"

David:
You can check the fire ant biosecurity zones by visiting fireant.org.au. There is an interactive map where you can enter your address to see if your property falls within a biosecurity zone or an interstate quarantine zone. These zones are updated regularly based on new detections.

Moderator:
That’s helpful. Another question coming in—

Question:
"If I buy potted plants, how can I be sure they’re fire ant-free?"

Jonathan:
If you're purchasing potted plants from within a fire ant biosecurity zone, ask the seller if they have followed the required fire ant management procedures. They should be able to provide records of chemical treatments, inspections, and compliance with biosecurity regulations. If in doubt, conduct your own inspections before bringing the plants onto your property.

Moderator:
Great advice. We have time for a couple more questions.

Question:
"Can I store mulch and soil directly on the ground, or do I need a barrier?"

David:
You should never store mulch or soil directly on sand—even if it’s treated. If you’re storing on-ground, the material must be placed on a fire ant-resistant surface, such as concrete, bitumen, or 200-micron plastic sheeting. A bifenthrin perimeter treatment (30 cm wide) is also required. Alternatively, if stored off-ground, no chemical treatment is necessary, but the material must be covered.

Moderator:
Last question for today.

Question:
"If I suspect fire ants in my stockpile, what should I do?"

Jonathan:
If you suspect fire ants, do not disturb the nest. Report the sighting immediately through fireant.org.au or by calling 132523. You must report suspected fire ants within 24 hours, as required by the Biosecurity Act 2016. A licensed pest manager can assess and treat the infestation safely.

Moderator:
That wraps up our Q&A session. Thank you, Jonathan and David, for answering these questions.

Herman:
Thank you to everyone for participating in today’s webinar. If you have any further questions, you can reach out to our compliance team via our call centre at 132523 or use the contact form on our website. A link to more resources is now in the webinar chat for your reference.

Thanks again, and have a great afternoon.