Biosecurity officials are investigating the detection of a single red imported fire ant that was found inside a package from Queensland at an Australia Post parcel centre in southern Tasmania.
The highly aggressive ants are one of the world’s worst invasive pests, with their painful, venomous sting posing risks to people, animals and plants and overall biodiversity.
They can kill animals much larger than themselves by swarming their prey. They can also damage electrical and agricultural equipment, and damage ecosystems beyond repair.
Fire ants were first detected in Brisbane, Queensland in February 2001, but it is believed they may have arrived up to 20 years earlier.
They have been largely eradicated in Australia through a national program, however clusters are still found in south-east Queensland and in recent weeks, the ants crossed the border into northern New South Wales.
Biosecurity Tasmania (BT) said the non-reproductive female ant was found in a package containing plant material as part of “business-as-usual surveillance operations at mail centres across the state”.
A spokesperson said the ant was “euthanised in ethanol and retained for formal identification purposes”.
BT traced the package and put extra surveillance and trapping operations in place, and is now investigating the circumstances around which the parcel was sent.
Postal workers, BT praised
Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jo Palmer congratulated BT on the interception.
“I applaud the postal workers and Biosecurity Tasmania staff for their diligent and responsive actions to identify this incursion and the precautionary steps they are taking through additional surveillance and trapping to ensure that there are no other ants,” Ms Palmer said.
She reiterated a statement from Biosecurity that the single ant’s detection did not signify an incursion.
“The detection is evidence that our border controls are in action and that our government’s investment in postal inspections is key to preventing pests and diseases from entering our state,” Ms Palmer said.
“Tasmania remains free from RIFA [red imported fire ant]”.
Urgently report sightings, public urged
Chairman of Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Ian Sauer, said he was “really shocked” by the discovery of the destructive species.
“Red fire ant, we do not want to have in Tasmania. But more importantly, it’s great that Biosecurity Tasmania picked it up,” he said.
He said the species could damage farms and native flora and fauna.
“If anything comes near their homes, whether that be birds or livestock or humans, they come out in huge numbers and sting,” Mr Sauer said.
“They have a very, very large negative impact on both the environment and the productive landscapes where farms are.”
Mr Sauer stressed farmers and the public should stay vigilant and research the ant.
“If you see a fire ant anywhere you need to ring Biosecurity as a matter of urgency,” he said.
“Luckily this time the ant was non-reproductive, but you’d only need to have a few ants coming down to Tasmania in some sort of plant material, soil or whatever, and then away that fire ant will go,” he said.
“Fingers crossed, this is an isolated single ant.”
Last October, the federal government committed $268 million over four years to help eradicate fire ants.
Biosecurity Tasmania can be contacted via the website or by phone on 03 6165 3777 or 1300 368 550
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