Fire Ant Treatment - Brisbane

Their correct name is the red important fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), often shortened to RIFA.

RIFA are native to South American and was spread accidentally to the southern USA in the 1930s, from where it has spread through shipping to other parts of the world. It was first detected in Brisbane in 2001.

There are other species of fire ant such as the little fire ant (current invasion in Cairns) and the tropical fire ant (established in the NT).

Red imported fire ants are small ants between 2-6 mm long – they come in a range of sizes (which is quite unusual for ants).

They are a shiny brown / red colour, with their abdomens normally darker than their heads and bodies.

Fire ant nests are hard to spot when small, but when they get a bigger they have a number of unique features:

• Small dome shaped mound (up to 40cm high)
• Looks like a pile of dirt with no obvious entry holes
• Often found on open ground or next to objects on the ground (poles, rocks, pavers)
• Ants will “pour” out of the nest when disturbed

Whereas the aim of the overall program is to get rid of fire ants permanently, it is not always possible to get rid of ants permanently from an individual property. A nest treatment will eliminate all the nests in the yard, but there is always the possibility that new nests will move into the yard in the future.

After a bait treatment the nest will generally be eliminated in 1-2 weeks, depending on the product used. The treatment does not stop ants moving into the areas from surrounding properties. Therefore how long it lasts depends on the number of nests in the surrounding area. With fire ants it is a question of continuous monitoring and treatment as necessary.

A single fire ant sting is painful but perhaps not as painful as a bee sting. However, often a victim will get multiple stings when they stand on or near a nest by accident.

Apart from the pain, some people can suffer severe allergic reactions leading to anaphylactic shock and potential death. If you suspect an allergic reaction after being stung seek medical attention immediately.

Although anyone can get stung, children and pets playing in yards and livestock in pastures are particularly susceptible.

The initial infestation has spread from the port of Brisbane to western areas of Brisbane, with infestations now covering the greater Brisbane area, Ipswich, Logan, and Redlands, out into the scenic Rim, the Lockyer Valley and Gold Coast. They have also be found on the Sunshine Coast in Noosa.

Here is the latest fire ant map, showing the confirmed fire ant infestation sites  over the previous 12 months.

They have now been found south of the border in northern NSW.