“They can form boats and float on the floodwaters and land in new locations to re-establish their colonies once the floodwaters recede,” Pianta said in a phone interview. “Very cool, but also very scary.” The council shared the video in a call to residents in Queensland and New South Wales to be vigilant in checking their properties for fire ants and to report them to the authorities if they find any.
Fire ants, native to South America, are capable of a sting that can be painful for an hour and in rare cases can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. They often attack a swarm of stinging ants at a time, according to Australia's National Fire Ant Eradication Program.
Multiple stings “give a sensation that the body is burning” and can leave behind itchy blisters, the program said.
Fire ant infestations are a global problem. A large population was detected in Europe for the first time in September. In the United States, where they were introduced in the first half of the 20th century, they are found in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Puerto Rico, according to the department. American agriculture.
It was first discovered in Australia in 2001 and has steadily increased its foothold. Usually restricted to tropical Queensland, it was found further south in northern New South Wales for the first time in November.
“We have enough vitriol in Australia,” Pianta said. “We don't want another one.” How the ants entered Australia is uncertain, but it was likely through shipping containers from the United States, according to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program.
Australia's state and federal governments have allocated more than 670 million Australian dollars, or $440 million, to eradication efforts since 2017, the Australian government said in October.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt said the insects were able to spread to 97% of the country. “They have the potential to do more damage to our agriculture and environment than all invasive pests combined,” he said.
