Crunch time as Alice takes on feral ant army
21 Feb 2006
Alice Springs, Australia - This summer has been the worst on record not only for scorching temperatures but also infestations of feral big-headed ants in homes around Alice Springs.
"This summer we are seeing many areas where these feral ants have not previously been reported, suggesting that they are spreading further into town and out to the rural zone," says WWF-Australia, Threatened Species Network (TSN) Project Officer, Linda McGuire.
The African big-headed ant is the only introduced ant species in Alice Springs. It is a highly aggressive species which can rapidly establish nests, replacing native ant populations, and cause damage to housing by chewing through wiring and tile grout. Their nests are very distinctive, often occurring in pavement cracks and lawns. The ants are known for their highly active nest building and for frequently moving soil at the nest entrance.
The ants themselves can easily be overlooked or misidentified, as only one in a hundred have the characteristic big head. The rest of the worker ants are small, less than 5mm, and range in colour from pale ginger to brown.
The ants are now also prevalent in many parks and public spaces around Alice Springs. Concerns over the potential damage they might inflict on native ants is growing as their distribution increases.
The ants have recently been identified in the Ilparpa Valley, which is an alarming increase in their range, and is of grave concern because of the likely impacts on the highly diverse habitats in that area.
This summer has also seen a surge in numbers of businesses around town reporting infestations of these feral ants inside buildings and in office equipment. The TSN project has been actively engaging with nurseries, pest control agents, public housing managers, Town Council staff and the general public in trying to control the spread of these feral ants.
Judging from this summer's level of big-headed ant activity, this may be the last chance at controlling or containing them in the region. The success of any control effort hinges on the coordinated involvement of local residents, council and business.
"We encourage residents to talk to their neighbours about infestations and to coordinate treatments. A coordinated approach is critical so that rapid re-infestation from surrounding areas does not occur," says Linda McGuire.
For more information
For more information, identification of suspect ants, or for treatment advice for big-headed ants contact:
Linda McGuire, Big-headed Ant Project Officer, WWF-Australia Threatened Species Network
Phone: 08 8952 1541
Press enquiries should be directed to:
Angela Heck, Press Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1268
Email: 0421 053 023
