Fire ants
The last 12 months of reported fire ant locations
Fire ants infest around 600,000 ha in South East Queensland in Greater Brisbane and Toowoomba regions, and Northern NSW in the Northern Rivers. Fire ants are one of the world’s worst invasive species, with the ability to severely impact our environment, economy, agricultural industries, health, and our Australian way of life.
Free 15-20 minute online training is available at: the National Fire Ant Eradication Program. This website also include materials and resources to help you prepare and raise awareness.
Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) are fast moving, aggressive ants with a severe burning sting. Because they attack in swarms, they can cause multiple bites in one event, creating the sensation of being on fire. They are harmful to people, livestock and wildlife and consequently impact recreational and agricultural activities.
Fire ants have 4 characteristics that together set them apart from other ants you might find:
Various sizes of fire ants.
they are 2–6 mm long
they are found in a variety of sizes within one nest
they are dark reddish-brown in colour
they have darker brown-black abdomens
they are aggressive - hundreds of ants will come out of a nest if disturbed, trying to sting over and over.
With magnification, you can see that their waist section has two segments.