Yes, my brother was bitten by one about a month ago. My parents and he run a business in the area where they were first discovered in Brisbane. He decided to have a wander over and chat to the DPI fellows who were examining the nest. These ants get quite ferocious and when my brother poked the nest with his shoe, they began biting furiously. He had a bite to his wrist and said if you can imagine a greenant bite, multiply it by ten and you are close to the amount of pain. It swelled up for 3 days and caused him agony. I have 2 toddler boys (who explore everything) and I worry about bites. Media reports said yesterday that up to 430 different sites have been identified in SE Qld. Great...NOT

Hi Robert,

I think you have been mis-informed on the DPI here are doing nothing. They have been in contact with the experts in the USA and they are spraying the nests and closely monitoring the results. They have tried a number of different treatments also. Unfortunately other countries, including the USA have not succeeded in stopping the fire ant. I havn't got it handy but there is a web page here on the ant.

If you are interested you could try the Qld Dept. Primary Industries web site www.dpi.qld.gov.au
I think it is in there somewhere.

Doug.

I believe that the cure to the fire-ant blight could be via the european wasp.Consider this-they are both extremely aggresive species,position their nests at roughly the same height above ground(hence are well positioned to get into fights!),and,at least for the wasp,can be controlled if such a treatment got out of hand!Your thoughts please,sincerely,Paul Nankin/phone-0402 362-836

Your information is out of date. Read Dougs thread above www.dpi.qld.gov.au >fireants and also link to Texas site.

There is a massive effort being put into eradication by the Qld Dept of Primary Industries over the next 5 years following the Commonwealth and other States Governments realising that it is a serious problem. They have all contributed now after much prodding and I think the budget is $130 million.

The track record in control in Texas, USA has been bad and there yearly cost for non-control is up in the USD$500 m area. Hopefully we have learnt from these mistakes.

The aim now is wide publicity, so the nests are recognised, so the egg laying females can be eradicated. Like green & bull ants I assume fireants are wingless wasps too. Any entomologists comment please.

The DPI (Dept. Primary Industries) here are aiming for eradication within 5 years. The DPI state the reason why the ants were not eradicated successfully in the USA was because they didn't do anything about the ants for years and by the time they did try it was too late.

The ants probably were imported into Australia in soil on farm machinery or within a shipping container. I still believe we have some of the best quarantine controls in the world and this outbreak only proves our island country is no longer safe from the nasties overseas and anyone importing illegal plants, soils etc should be locked up and the door welded shut.

For those who havn't seen the ant it looks similar in size and colour to the small brown ants we see around the house, typically 2 to 4mm long.

In the state of Georgia, we have fireants everywhere. The only thing I found that works is a product that is a non-toxic cleaner for metal. It evaporates into a heavier-than-air vapor that suffocates the entire anthill.Anyone interested can email me for info.

I read on one of the US forums today that white vinegar soothes the sting if bitten.

Liatris

there are many different strains of fire ants, the one we have in SE QLD is the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) is originates from brazil and was transported into america in the 1930's when technology and science had no way of controling them and by the time these caught up it was too late for eradication. These ants came to QLD about 5-6 years ago by an unknown means and infest a reasonably small area of 400,000 hectares which includes the area of Brisbane.

The DPI (Department of Primary Industries) have already started an eradication project in this entire area.

These ants are very difficult to positively identify as we have our own native fire ant which looks similar, If you believe that you have RIFA in your property you should and under the plant protection act have an obligation to contact the DPI Fire Ant Control Centre on 132523.

The rain in SE Qld last night will bring out the females ready to spread so keep a watch out for mounds of what you might think are the local brown ants (until they bite) and inform the QDPI pronto.

HEY MATES , The way to find out if they're fire ants is to stomp the ground about two feet away from the mound. stand there like a dummy . At least fifty will get on you before they bite. It feels like a burn from a torch and keeps on burning ,the next day you'll have yellow bumps where you were bitten.I spend 60 dollar's ever summer trying to keep them out of the house.Quail hunting ,rabbit hunting,satting a child on the ground,picking up anything without geting bite are things of the past.I've seen 100's of queens coming out of one mound ,if their past your coast line you don't have a chance,enjoy the time you have left. ANTHILL U.S.A. REBEL-RUDE

This is now a year later and where I live is within 500 metres of an identification site.We are in a quarantine area. It took the Qld Gov. some time, May 02 I think, to get good quarantine regulations legislated and as a result fireants were spread with bulk soil and I suspect the suppliers knew. There is an army of QDPI control officers quarantining now and spreading hormonal baits that the field ants take back into the nest and kill off the queen. There has been success so far but only time (5+years) will tell!

Strong advertising, observation and reporting quickly is very important so SE Queenslanders need to know what to look for. That system is where the Texans failed.

I am originally from Houston, Texas. I have experienced fire ants first hand and can promise you that fire ants will devastate life in Australia. I have been stung a number of times and can tell you that their stings are worse than jellyfish. Pustules form where stung. When the nest is disturbed the entire colont will attack and sting leaving hundreds of burning pus fill welts and permanent scars. I have witnessed fire ants that killed a large dog.The ants can survive freezing temperatures as their nest extends well into the ground. In Texas we tried burning the nests with petrol or diesel to no avail, the ants just went deep into the ground. The nests are so thick that we could not use our back garden. Cutting the grass was a hazard. Even using a swimming pool was a danger around them as the ants could float after comming to the pool seeking water. So I for one will be vigilant. I feel sorry for those in Queensland that come in contact with fire ants.

Hi All, the latest updates available,Good luck to all the Field Officers and Ground Staff and All those concerned in the eradication program, we are confident of your success.
Peter R

Here is a link that might be useful: RIFA/Qld

I think it was not till the texan teams came out here and put the fear of god into our pollies, that convinced them that 160 mill eradication program was a drop in the ocean compared to what it would cost if they delayed.

We have lots of problems with fire ants here in Florida USA. I hope you guys do better at controlling the problem. I know you government is doing all it can.

We also have an ant brought over from your area, the white-footed ant (Technomyrmex albipes). I think you call it the black house ant or something like that. I am doing research on control for this ant and have invented a bait that works very well. Anyway, I hope to get out-back someday!

John

The DPI is doing a great job of controlling the fire ant. An International Convention was held in Brisbane 2 weeks ago, and the Qld Authorities are very confident of eradicating them all together.

One of the important differences between Australia and the US is that the Qld government issued laws which allowed DPI officers to enter any and all property to search for, and bait, the fire ants. This has meant that a blanket baiting of ALL nests discovered has been possible, and is a key factor in the success of the program here. Arnold Swarzenegger received criticism when he stopped funding to the fire ant program in California, but the difference was, if just one person refused to allow the authorities onto their property to look for/poison the ants, then the whole neighbourhood - and eventually the State - remained infected. Also, as a community we are much more behind the drive to get rid of the fire ants - the American people attending the convention could not believe that people in Brisbane VOLUNTEER for fire ant patrols - I work with about 5 people who give up one day a fortnight (and have done for nearly 3 years now) just to walk around peoples backyards and look for/treat fire ant nests.

The wharf area in Auckland NZ also had a fire ant infestation that has been successfully treated, in part for the same reason - authorities were allowed to inspect/treat any and all property.

Here is a link that might be useful: fire ant link

We can't do that here in the USA. If we went into someone's yard to control their fire ants, we would be shot!

We are taking ant samples to the Ag Dept in WA,we are on the lookout for Fireants here,along with Euro Wasp,Cane Toad,Qfly,crikey you lot over there are infested

Hi Miketrees, you forgot we got Crazy Ants about 1 month back, we have another round of Fire Ant Treatments starting in 2 weeks time, Teams of 40 personel will treat all of last years areas and any new spots. Never give up hope they have been under control for now if everyone keeps up the fight, we'll be right. Peter r

Ok you keep the fire ants under control and we will try to knock out the European House Borer

Hi there all I work in Brisbane in the plant , nursery industry... We have 25 x dpi fire ant people spend 1/2 a day going through the nursery checking to prevent them spreading from other areas to the nursery industry....
and therefore protecting you

If you would like to know more maybe you could call them directly.. as they are winning but with your help not your critiscism.... ( not all of you do that i know)