I'm Jon from Deadset Pest Management in Logan, and I treat fire ants across Jimboomba, Yarrabilba and the southern Logan suburbs. Here's how to identify fire ants and what to do next.
What fire ants look like
According to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, fire ant workers are:
- 2 mm to 6 mm long, with different sized workers in the same nest
- Copper brown on the head and body, with a darker abdomen
- Aggressive when the nest is disturbed, swarming out and stinging repeatedly
How big are fire ants?
Small, no bigger than a grain of rice. The mix of sizes is the giveaway: many garden ants are all about the same size, while a fire ant nest has small and large workers running together.
Ants often mistaken for fire ants
Strobe ants have bright red and black colouring and are harmless. Meat ants are bigger, up to 1 cm long, and build large mounds topped with pebbles or gravel. If you can't tell, report it anyway.
What a fire ant nest looks like
Fire ant nests are mounds of loose, crumbly soil. Depending on the weather, they can be dome shaped or flat patches of disturbed soil. The program says they're typically around 30 cm wide and 10 cm high, though size depends on the soil, the colony and its age.
The key difference from most ant nests is that there's no obvious entry or exit hole on top. The ants come and go through tunnels underneath.
To check a suspected nest safely, wear long sleeves, long pants, boots and gloves. Use a long stick to gently poke the nest, step back and watch. If lots of small, aggressive ants of mixed sizes pour out, treat it as fire ants.
Where they turn up in SEQ
Where are fire ants found in Australia?
Fire ants are native to South America and were first detected in Queensland in February 2001. They're now established across parts of South East Queensland, and there have been detections in northern New South Wales, according to the Australian Government's outbreak page.
They like open, sunny ground. The program lists lawns, gardens, paddocks, roadsides and driveways, plus under logs, bricks and pavers and along dam edges. Acreage around Jimboomba and newer estates in Yarrabilba have plenty of that, including open lawn, fresh turf and soil moved during building.
Why fire ants are dangerous
Why are fire ants bad?
A disturbed nest can swarm onto your feet and legs in seconds, with each ant stinging over and over. That's a real problem for kids playing on the lawn, pets, and anyone mowing. They're also a major concern for farming and native wildlife.
How long do fire ant bites last?
Strictly speaking, fire ants sting rather than bite. The Queensland Government says the burning, itching pain can last up to an hour. Small blisters or pustules can then form anywhere from 2 to 48 hours later, according to the program's first aid advice. Wash the area with soap and water, use an ice pack, and don't break the blisters.
Some people have a severe allergic reaction. Call 000 straight away if someone develops hives, swelling of the face, eyes or throat, chest pain, breathing difficulty or feels faint after being stung.
What to do if you find them
- Keep people and pets away from the area.
- Don't touch, dig, mow over or pour anything on the nest.
- Take a photo or short video from a safe distance, if you can do it safely.
- Report it within 24 hours (details below).
- Don't move soil, mulch, turf or potted plants from that part of your yard.
Reporting fire ants
In Queensland, red imported fire ants are category 1 restricted matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014, and the Department of Primary Industries says category 1 restricted matter must be reported within 24 hours of becoming aware of it.
You can report fire ants by calling 13 22 68 (132 ANT) or using the online form at ants.daf.qld.gov.au. Include a description, the address and photos if you can take them safely. You'll get a reference number to track the report.
Fire ant biosecurity zones also restrict moving soil, hay, mulch, manure, quarry materials, turf and potted plants. Check the biosecurity zone rules before you move any of these off your block.
Why DIY treatment can spread them
This is where most people go wrong. Boiling water, petrol or surface spray on a mound might kill the ants you can see, but the queen sits deep underground. Researchers at Texas A&M's fire ant project note that if a hot water treatment doesn't wipe out the colony, the ants will probably just move somewhere else. You end up with a new nest a few metres away.
How to get rid of fire ants safely
Residents in the program's suppression area can self-treat land they own or manage with approved baits. The program's guidance says to:
- Apply on a day forecast to reach 20°C or more
- Pick a stretch with no rain for 2 days before and after
- Spread the bait in a circle about 1 metre from the centre of the nest, not on top of it
- Avoid mowing, watering or disturbing the area for 48 hours
Baits work because foraging workers carry the granules back and share them with the queen. Some eligible households can also get free treatment kits through the program.
What kills fire ants immediately?
Nothing a homeowner can buy will wipe out a whole colony on the spot. For nests that are a safety risk or need to go quickly, the program uses direct nest injection, which floods the nest and tunnels with an approved insecticide. The program says only licensed pest managers are authorised to use that product on fire ants.
Getting them treated properly
If kids or pets use the yard, nests are close to the house, or the block is too big to bait yourself, book professional fire ant control. My treatments follow Queensland Government guidelines to keep families and pets safe.
I'll confirm the nests, treat each one with the right method, and tell you what to watch for over the following weeks. Please report suspected fire ants to the program as well.
Request a quote or call me on 0412 205 586.
Summary: how to identify fire ants
- Fire ants are copper brown with a darker abdomen, 2 to 6 mm long, and mixed in size.
- Nests are loose mounds or flat patches of soil with no obvious entry hole.
- They swarm and sting when disturbed. Severe allergic reactions need a 000 call.
- Report suspected fire ants within 24 hours on 13 22 68 or online.
- Don't pour boiling water or spray on the mound. Bait correctly or get a licensed technician.
Knowing how to identify fire ants is the first step. Reporting and proper treatment is what stops them reaching the next yard.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if an ant is a fire ant?
Look for small, copper brown ants with a darker abdomen, in mixed sizes from 2 to 6 mm, coming from a mound of loose soil with no obvious entry hole.
What does a fire ant nest look like?
A dome or flat patch of loose soil, often around 30 cm wide and 10 cm high, with no obvious hole on top. They often appear in lawns and along driveways after rain.
How big are fire ants?
Workers are 2 mm to 6 mm long, with mixed sizes in the same nest.
Do I have to report fire ants in Queensland?
Yes. Fire ants are category 1 restricted matter, which must be reported within 24 hours. Call 13 22 68 or report online at ants.daf.qld.gov.au.
How long do fire ant bites last?
The burning pain can last up to an hour. Small white pustules can form 2 to 48 hours after the sting. Don't break them, and call 000 if there are any signs of a severe allergic reaction.
What kills fire ants immediately?
Nothing sold to homeowners kills a whole colony instantly. Direct nest injection, which only licensed pest managers can use, is the fastest method for urgent nests.
How do I get rid of fire ants in my lawn?
In the suppression area you can use approved baits on warm, dry days, spread in a circle about a metre from the nest. For nests near the house or where kids and pets play, get a licensed technician. You can call me on 0412 205 586.
Can I move soil or mulch if I live in a fire ant zone?
Moving soil, mulch, turf and similar materials is restricted inside the biosecurity zones. Check the program's movement rules first.