Hunting Fire Ants - how cyclists are key soldiers in the battle against Australia’s worst Super Pest

Red Imported Fire Ants are up there with the worst things we’ve imported from the United States - and it wasn’t even theirs to begin with. Solenopsis Invicta is native to South America, but arrived on our shores via Florida in 2001.
Since then, more than two decades and almost $1 billion has been spent trying to fight these incredibly invasive and damaging ants with the potential to kill human beings with their venom. Without control and eradication, fire ants could be costing the Australian economy more than $2 billion every year for eternity.
What’s really crucial to the success of eradication is for members of the public to be aware of fire ants and report them. One of the best ways to do that is when you’re out on your bike. Once you know what to look for, spotting fire ant nests alongside roads and bike paths is really easy, and it just takes a moment to take a photo and make a report - and it can be your contribution to saving Australia from a threat to our economy and our way of life.
SOURCES
Report Fire Ants
ants.daf.qld.gov.au/table-of-...
Queensland Ministerial Statement - New response plan has fire ants surrounded
statements.qld.gov.au/stateme...
Invasive Species Council of Australia - National Fire Ant Eradication Program Response Plan 2023-27 and Appendices
invasives.org.au/publications...
National Fire Ant Eradication Program
www.fireants.org.au/
Behind The News - Super Pest Fire Ants - ABC TV
• Super Pest Fire Ants -...
Fire Ant Identification Video
• Fire ant identificatio...
0:00 Introduction
1:18 Fire Ants - The Story So Far
4:01 Hunting Fire Ants
10:07 Finishing up

[@MurrayMcDonald]

Good video Chris

[@JimCullen]

Fun fact, despite sometimes being called "white ants", termites are actually most closely related to cockroaches, not ants.

[@wozm9924]

Learnt more about fire ants in this clip than anywhere else. Didn't know this pest was so prevalent as to be commonly seen making its nests along busy roads.

[@ChrisCoxCycling]

Yep! I reckon a lot of people pass them by every day and not realise.

[@nigelstewart9982]

We lived in central Texas where these buggers basically run amok. You would not walk barefoot on a lawn, and even sandals or thongs is risky. You probably wouldn't have a picnic on a blanket unless you were pretty vigilant. I remember visiting California and being so pleased to sit on the grass without fear of being swarmed and bitten. I tended to use big bottles of vinegar to discourage them from our yard, more a matter of ongoing management than eradication. Our young children were able to play close to the house, but they did once have a bad day on the grounds of a public swimming pool. It's a shame they're here, along with the cane toads.

[@ChrisCoxCycling]

Yeah definitely. The efforts to eradicate them have been solid here. At the minimum they have been prevented becoming absolutely rampant. They reckon if the program hadn't been doing its thing they'd be as far north as Bowen and south as Sydney by now.
The really are a serious threat to parks and local sport. My kids' football club has had infestations which were able to be dealt with quickly.
The effort and cost to try and eradicate them is definitely worth it. Just hope the plan is successful.

[@thennicke]

This would be the perfect situation to apply gene drive technology. In the meantime I'll be doing the same as you -- thanks for the information about it.

[@bobbieboothroyd8531]

I'm glad we don't get them here in Britain.

[@GaigeGrosskreutzGunClub]

Not yet!

[@CyclingSteve]

The parakeets are bad enough. 😁