BRISBANE — As Queensland's wet season begins, authorities and researchers are issuing urgent warnings regarding invasive fire ants. Experts from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) note that heavy rains and swollen waterways threaten to trigger a dangerous "last resort" survival behavior: ant rafting.
Why Fire Ant Rafts Pose a Major Threat
Invasive fire ants have already infested approximately 850,000 hectares across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. When floods and heavy downpours hit, individual colonies join together into floating masses designed to protect the queen, share oxygen, and transport the insects to dry ground.
According to Griffith University PhD candidate Cassidy Winter, fire ant colonies often feature multiple queens. This unique trait allows rafting colonies to easily split apart and establish entirely new infestations once they drift to riverbanks or other areas.
Furthermore, NFAEP general manager of operations Marni Manning explained that ants in a survival-mode raft increase their toxicity. Because they are desperate to escape the water, they will aggressively latch onto anything that touches them, posing heightened risks to children, older individuals, and pets.
Eradication Efforts Remain on Track
Despite the seasonal challenges, Ms. Manning emphasized that eradication efforts remain "on track" and contained to the south-east corner of the region, which covers Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, parts of the Sunshine Coast, and northern New South Wales. Experts are calling on the public, local governments, and industry partners to remain vigilant, keep a safe distance from suspected nests or floating rafts, and report sightings to support containment measures.
