Red imported fire ants in Australia facts for kids

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is a tiny insect that originally came from South America. But now, these ants have spread to many other places, including Australia, New Zealand, parts of Asia, the Caribbean, and the United States. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists fire ants as one of the world's most damaging invasive species.

Fire ants were first found in Australia in Queensland in 2001. The Australian government sees them as a major threat because they can seriously harm Australia's amazing wildlife and nature.

What Do Fire Ants Look Like?

Fire ants have a head and body that are a copper-brown color, and their back part (abdomen) is darker. The worker ants, which are the ones you usually see, can be blackish to reddish. They are quite small, ranging from about 2 to 6 millimeters long.

Where Do Fire Ants Live in Australia?

Fire ants have been found in Australia seven different times. Six of these times were in Queensland, and one was in New South Wales (NSW). The first two times they were found in Queensland were in 2001, one in Brisbane and another at the Port of Brisbane. We don't know exactly how they got here, but they probably arrived by accident in a shipping container from the southern USA, where they are very common.

More fire ants were found in Yarwun, Central Queensland, in 2006 and 2013. Then, in 2015, they were found at Brisbane Airport, and again at the Port of Brisbane in 2016. In NSW, fire ants were discovered in Port Botany in 2014.

Good news! The fire ants found at the Port of Brisbane, Yarwun, and Port Botany have been completely removed. However, the first group of ants found in Brisbane has spread a lot. They now cover about 300,000 hectares in south-east Queensland. Experts are worried they could soon spread into nearby areas of NSW. Even so, it's still possible to get rid of them from south-east Queensland.

Why Are Fire Ants a Problem?

Fire ants cause big problems for our environment, for people, and for our economy.

For Nature

Fire ants could spread across most of Australia's coastal areas. They could also reach large parts of Australia's tropical north, including special World Heritage areas and national parks.

These ants are very aggressive. They eat a lot of ground-dwelling animals like insects, frogs, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. This means they could push out or even wipe out some of Australia's native animals. This includes endangered birds like the southern cassowary and Gouldian finch, and threatened turtles such as the hawksbill and green turtles.

Fire ants also threaten native plants. They eat and damage seeds and young plants. They can also harm the insects and animals that help pollinate native plants. All these actions can seriously mess up natural ecosystems over time.

For People and Pets

Fire ants are a serious danger to human health because of their sting. Their sting causes a painful, burning feeling. They attack in swarms and can sting many times. If someone has a severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis), a sting can be very dangerous. Experts believe that if fire ants spread, they could cause up to 3,000 severe allergic reactions in Australia each year.

There's also a risk of infection if the blisters or bumps from the stings break open. Fire ants could also make it hard to enjoy Australia's outdoor lifestyle, just like they have in the USA. Simple activities like barbecues, picnics, and sports might not be possible in areas with many fire ants. Pets and other animals can also be stung and hurt. They might have allergic reactions or even be blinded by the venom.

For Our Economy

The Queensland government has estimated that fire ants could cost the state around $45 billion Australian dollars in south-east Queensland alone. This includes costs related to farming, machinery, and important buildings or roads.

Fire ants can kill farm animals and damage crops. Newborn animals are especially at risk because the ants can sting around their eyes, mouth, and nose, which can cause blindness, swelling, and even suffocation. Fire ants also get into animals' food and water, stopping them from eating and drinking, which can lead to starvation and dehydration.

They also harm crops by eating seeds and digging tunnels through roots and stems. Fire ants can even protect some pest insects that produce a sugary liquid called 'honeydew'. More of these pests can lower the quality of farm produce and help diseases spread.

In the USA, fire ant mounds have damaged farm equipment like irrigation systems and machinery used for harvesting. These mounds are also a problem in lawns, sports fields, and golf courses. The ants have also damaged roads, footpaths, and expensive electrical equipment. Getting rid of fire ants is also very costly. By June 2016, governments had already spent over $329 million trying to get rid of them. In the USA, fire ants have cost the economy an estimated $7 billion American dollars.

Stopping the Spread

The Australian government quickly responded when fire ants were found in Brisbane in 2001, putting a lot of money into the problem. However, new discoveries show that fire ants are still getting into Australia, even with strong border checks. Sometimes, it takes a long time to find them after they arrive. For example, the ants found in 2014 probably arrived two or three years earlier.

Experts say that we need good national plans for finding and getting rid of fire ants. There's only a short time left to effectively wipe them out. A recent report found that every dollar spent on getting rid of fire ants now could save $25 in the future!

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  Red imported fire ants are a big problem in Australia.