INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BIOSECURITY QUEENSLAND
The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program is underway
The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program has been approved to deliver a ten year eradication plan to eradicate fire ants from Australia to reduce the size of the infestation in a staged, rolling eradication program from west to east. This funding is supported by all Australian states, territories and the Commonwealth Government.
Is my property within the treatment area?
It is critical that all growing areas receive fire ant bait treatment. There cannot be any places left untreated as this will provide ants with an opportunity to re infest.
What does the treatment involve?
Fire ant bait treatment involves the distribution of granulated bait over crops, paddocks and other open areas either by foot personnel, all-terrain vehicle or by helicopter.
Unlike conventional insecticides, the fire ant bait is not a contact poison, instead mimics an insect growth regulator hormone. Â Bait is made up of corn grit soaked in a mixture of soybean oil and either S-methoprene which is widely used in mosquito control programs throughout Queensland, or pyriproxyfen, commonly used in dog and cat flea collars. These hormone products are not harmful to humans or livestock however a queen ant feeding on the bait will cease to produce eggs causing her colony to die off in time.
The bait is applied under strict permit conditions set by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. There is no with holding period for stock and produce which has been in contact with bait need only be washed after harvest before marketing.
What happens when my property begins treatment?
Biosecurity Officers will work closely with growers to manage the best way to get treatment completed while minimising disturbance to harvesting or other important farm activities.
It is important for the success of the bait, that it is left undisturbed for 48 hours to take effect. This time will allow worker ants to forage for bait and circulate it through the colony to the queen ant.
Not disturbing includes not irrigating, ploughing, harvesting, baling or disturbing the ground where bait is laid. Preventing the bait from taking effect may exacerbate a fire ant infestation making it an offence under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
Still got questions?
For more information about fire ant bait treatment and to view the areas targeted for treatment visit www.daf.qld.gov.au/fireants or call Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.