This month’s tip is more of a warning.
Fire ants are on the move. Do you know what to look for?
Blog
Following the finding of a new Red Fire Ant infestation in Tallebudgera this week, the NSW government has imposed restrictions on materials being moved from Queensland. All of us have a responsibility to be aware of biosecurity risks, but as gardeners we are on the front line for sighting new nests and reporting them. Please read the links below to become familiar with the ants and what to do if a suspicious nest is spotted. The nests of imported fire ants and our local native jumping ant look a bit similar. The big difference is that the jumping ant is much bigger, around 2cm long while the fire ant is only 2 – 6mm long.
For reference an already published post on jumping ants is below.
National Fire Ant Eradication Program (fireants.org.au)
NSW imposes movement restrictions on materials from Qld in fight against fire ants – ABC News
Fighting fire ants in Australia – Invasive Species Council
Red imported fire ants (nsw.gov.au)
Jumping ants (Myrmecia nigrocincta) are very common in the Noosa Shire. They prefer Eucalypt forest with open spaces on the ground. Their distribution varies, they don’t like the sand in Sunshine Beach, but they are happy in Tewantin and prolific in Pomona.
Jumping ants don’t hibernate in the winter although, during the colder months, they are much quieter and less likely to sting.
The sting from a jumping ant is very painful and the welt that quickly forms after a sting can itch for up to a week. The ant injects venom and it causes an anaphylactic response in some people. For me, it feels like a drop of acid has been put on the skin and the itch is intense and painful.
Nests are easy to see and once disturbed the ants pour out to attack. They are very aggressive and will chase perceived threats. Their movement is erratic and they will jump between plants to defend the colony. After a big rain event the nests are damaged and often abandoned. If a nest is being built close to a house, using water could encourage the ants to move on.
Due to the pain caused by stings and possible anaphylactic response, it’s important to be able to identify the nests and ants. After the first sting we become very good at this!
The links below provide more information about jumping ants and have some great photos.
Jumper Ant, Jumping Jack – Myrmecia nigrocincta (brisbaneinsects.com)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmecia_nigrocincta
Michelle Newall