Fire ants form rafts to spread during wet season; Queensland on alert
Fire ants form floating rafts in heavy rain. This helps them spread and become more dangerous.
Queensland's wet season brings a fresh danger. Fire ants form living rafts that float down swollen waterways.
The invasive ants link their bodies together to share oxygen and protect the queen. The ants escape flooded nests.
When they raft, multi-queen colonies can split apart. This creates new infestations downstream.
Ms Manning works for the National Fire Ant Eradication Program. She warned that ants in raft mode become more aggressive and toxic.
This happens because they are in survival mode. They will attack anything that threatens them as they cling to riverbanks or solid ground.
Fire ants now infest about 850,000 hectares across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. Experts urge anyone who finds a nest or raft to stay well back.
Report it to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program. The program says containment efforts remain on track.
Early detection is crucial to prevent wider spread.
- 850,000 hectares
- Infested area
- Marni Manning
- Program manager
Why it mattersWet-season rafting allows fire ants to spread to new areas faster. They split into multiple populations. This makes it far harder to get rid of them.
AustraliaQueensland residents face increased fire ant risk over the coming wet months; waterways and riverbanks become natural highways for spread.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
