Red Imported Fire Ant
Solenopsis invicta
Red Imported Fire Ant
General Information
Red Imported Fire Ants are tiny, but aggressive, reddish-brown ants with a fierce sting. There have been three incursions of this ant since 2001. The first two incursions were in border control areas, Auckland International Airport in March 2001 and Napier Seaport in 2004. The most recent incursion of this ant occurred in Whirinaki, North of Napier where a nest was discovered on 9 June 2006. MAF Biosecurity responded with a three year eradication programme and recently declared red imported fire ants eradicated from Whirinaki, Napier on 22 April 2009.
All movement controls that were implemented on 23 June 2006 to prevent the inadvertent spread of any remaining fire ant colonies on contaminated material have been lifted, effective 4 pm, 22 April 2009.
MAF Biosecurity would like to acknowledge the support and cooperation from residents and businesses in the Whirinaki area in complying with the movement restrictions for three years.
Resources
- Control Area Notice
(85 KB) - Notice of Revocation of The Controlled Area Notice (25 KB)
- Fact Sheet (101 KB)
- Stakeholder Update - 24-04-2009
- Release Assessment (1211 KB)
- Review of dispersal distances and landing site behaviour of Solenopsis invicta Buren, Red Imported Fire Ant (87 KB)
- Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta): A review of the literature regarding the determination of colony age (407 KB)
Page last updated: 24 April 2009