Hearth ants have reached protected koala habitat and a koala precedence space in south-eastern Queensland, with specialists warning of the hazard the extremely invasive pest poses to native wildlife.
Not less than 5 crimson imported fireplace ant (Rifa) nests have been found in Neville Lawrie reserve at Logan, which is a part of the Daisy Hill koala bushlands, on the finish of August.
The dense bushland is understood for its prime koala habitat and koala hall. Lower than 2km from the placement of the nests is the Daisy Hill koala sanctuary and the realm is standard with households, mountain bikers, horse riders and bushwalkers.
Nikki Liddell, 53, a finance supervisor from Alberton, found the nests when bushwalking.
“I never thought fire ants would have been in that area – I found them in the middle of the forest. How in the hell did they get into this area?” she stated.
In response to the Nationwide Hearth Ant Eradication Program’s map of fireplace ant detections, no Rifa have been detected throughout the Daisy Hill conservation park or the Neville Lawrie reserve within the final 12 months.
Koalas are significantly inclined to fireplace ants as a result of they transfer over floor and have thick fur. They have been first recognized as a species at risk from fireplace ants in a 2013 evaluation, with the marsupials comprising one in every of 123 native species threatened by Rifa, Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council stated.
In February, koalas have been for the primary time recognized on the federal degree as being significantly susceptible to Rifa. In a submission by the federal Division of Local weather Change, Power, the Atmosphere and Water to the Senate inquiry into Rifa, the federal government warned koala, platypus and echidnas could possibly be killed or injured by fireplace ants.
Rifa have been first detected in Queensland in 2001 and may kill individuals, native animals and livestock in addition to harm infrastructure and ecosystems and have infested greater than 700,000 hectares within the Brisbane space.
A queen ant might very simply fly at the least 2km to begin a brand new nest, and the koala sanctuary is effectively inside attain of the nests Liddell found, Pianta stated. A potential Rifa detection contained in the sanctuary was reported on the finish of August however was later decided to be a coconut ant, in accordance with this system.
Liddell reported the nests to the Hearth Ant Suppression Taskforce, which works alongside this system, however took the matter into her personal fingers when she had not obtained a response inside every week.
“I got a bit cranky and said I’d [bait them] myself. I couldn’t live with myself if they didn’t treat it for a month. They need to be treated straight away so they don’t spread more,” she stated from her dwelling within the northern Gold Coast.
She returned to the realm every week later and self-treated a complete of 5 nests with bait she had earlier been supplied by the taskforce to be used on her rural acreage. She is skilled with fireplace ants and is self-treating about 70 nests on her property.
Pianta stated he discovered it encouraging the group needs to assist clear up the issue.
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“The community are stepping up because they can see that this is an emergency,” he stated. “This is an iconic location that was set up to keep koalas safe.”
The aim of the suppression zone is to maintain fireplace ants underneath management, he stated, and Liddell’s expertise advised “suppression needs to be ramped up significantly so that it works”.
“Places that are supposed to be sanctuaries for threatened species will not be safe for fire ants unless we get them under control.”
Each he and Liddell are calling for an extension of suppression efforts – together with new self-baiting protocols – within the space, which is not going to be lined by the taskforce or the eradication program for 2 years from 2026.
“For places like Daisy Hill, there is a two-year gap between the end of the suppression program and when eradication treatment will commence there. We need to make sure self-baiting kits are still available over the next four years,” he stated.
A spokesperson from this system stated Liddell’s report was referred to Logan metropolis council for remedy and a choice on future funding of the taskforce had not been made.
Below Queensland’s Biosecurity Act and pest administration rules, solely authorised officers or authorized individuals are permitted to deal with fireplace ants on public land, they stated.
“We do strongly encourage reporting any sightings of fire ants at a residence or on public land within 24 hours. Priority is given to reports in high-risk areas such as schools, childcare centres, parks and sports fields,” they stated.
