Western Australia gets another pest

@JudyEv (323672)
Rockingham, Australia
November 28, 2019 6:16am CST
The photo is not of a pest, but a numbat. As if Australia doesn’t have a bad enough reputation already for the number of nasty creatures it harbours, another has now been added to the list. Actually the red imported fire ant has been in Queensland for a while but six nests have now been found in Fremantle, Western Australia’s major port. It is believed these ants have come from overseas rather than from Queensland. In some cases, stings from the ants have caused deaths from anaphylactic reactions. Others can become very ill from the fiery painful sting. The red imported fire ant is quick to form super colonies with multiple queens and spreads rapidly. It is a major problem for horticulture as it invades plant roots and stems, driving down productivity. The presence of these ants can render picnic areas and playgrounds unusable because of the severity of the bit. They are similar in appearance to our native ants, being reddish-brown in colour and between 2 to 6 mms in length (.7 to 2.3 inches). Our state emblem, the numbat, eats ants but I don't know how it would go with these nasty little devils. You can read more here:
An invasive ant species whose bite can be deadly has been found at Fremantle Port, the first time it has been detected in WA.
35 people like this
37 responses
• Valdosta, Georgia
28 Nov 19
Ouch!! I've been bit by fire ants here and they have put me in the hospital.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Wow. So what they say about them is true - not that I doubted it.
2 people like this
• Valdosta, Georgia
1 Dec 19
@JudyEv Yes they are nasty and can be deadly if allergic to them. My throat was closing and I need an epi pen in case I'm bit.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 19
@LovingMyBabies Oh dear. Then for you, such a bite could be really dangerous.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118219)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Nov 19
I laughed when I read this (although it's no laughing matter), because we have red fire ants all over the place here in Florida. Ours, too, arrived from somewhere else, and quickly spread and established themselves all over our state. They're just a part of our normal life now, and we just try to avoid them the best we can just like we do for alligators and pythons! And yes, their bite is extremely painful.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118219)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Nov 19
@JudyEv They're a very reddish color. Most native ants are black or brown, so yes it's easy to pick them out.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Are they easy to pick out from other ants?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 19
@moffittjc We have some native ones that are quite red.
2 people like this
• Preston, England
28 Nov 19
they do sound nasty - the numbat is cute though
3 people like this
• Preston, England
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv it does ound really bad - hope you don't encounter them
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
We have problems with insects without getting ants this dangerous.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
28 Nov 19
I think I had read about red fire ants that have venoms and can cause paralysis. Maybe you need to fight it with natural predators like the ant eaters called pangolins.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65350)
• Cainta, Philippines
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv ouch, that means the red ants is there to stay?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Introducing one animal to fight another never seems to work. Time and again Australia has done this and we've just ended up with two pests instead of one.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
@Alexandoy They are quite prevalent on the other side of the country but they are hoping that they have exterminated the ones at the port. Hopefully there aren't any more nests around.
1 person likes this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
29 Nov 19
That's terrible you've been invaded by them.
3 people like this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
30 Nov 19
@JudyEv It would be good if they did.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 19
Hopefully they might have been able to destroy them all.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
28 Nov 19
That numbat is cool. I hadn't known of it. I hope those fire ants don't become any more of a problem. They sound mean
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Numbats are very cute. We used to have them in the bush behind our farm and I'd sometimes see them when I went riding.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
@FayeHazel They are 14 to 18 inches long but that includes the tail so about small cat size I guess and yes, a bit like a squirrel. They sometimes sit up a bit like a meercat. The are also known as a banded anteater. The tongue is long and sticky. And I used to ride my pony in the bush and sometimes see them.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv Awesome! And they eat pests. Bonus. How big is it? Looks sort of squirrel like, maybe? Riding? Horseback?
2 people like this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
29 Nov 19
Oh boy they have reached your continent already and for sure if they are able to thrive they would be a big nuisance to your place. I think with the transportation very open for these animals to be transported this one can survive there quite quickly if they are not stopped immediately. Hope your local anteaters will be able to eradicate them before they outnumber them.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv Anyway where is the origin of that specie? It looks like familiar to me and we have that kind in my place. So far we got used to its bite already and so far they would not bother you if you don't bother theirs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Hopefully there is only the one area that is infested and again hopefully all of those have been dealt with.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
@rsa101 Its proper name is the red imported fire ant and it is native to South America. Wikipedia says that sightings in the Philippines haven't been confirmed.
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
29 Nov 19
I don´t much like any sort of bugs, specially those that are importad for lack of care from human beings.
2 people like this
@marguicha (214294)
• Chile
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv I know. I have less problems because I live in a big city.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
It can be very difficult to keep pests out. It's lucky we're like a big island. It makes it a bit easier.
2 people like this
@rebelann (110766)
• El Paso, Texas
29 Nov 19
I pray to the Great Spirit that they won't invade my territory, it's bad enough I have the giant centipedes, black widows and brown recluse here.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (110766)
• El Paso, Texas
30 Nov 19
You're right, I don't @JudyEv Deserts have a variety of pesky pests like carpenter ants, they're everywhere and scorpions but they reside outside urban areas most times, I've been lucky not to have come across any. Of course we have snakes but they generally stay away from noisy areas, they can't hear but they can feel the vibrations of noise and they don't like that. Lucky me, eh?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 19
It doesn't sound like you need any other nasties.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 19
@rebelann Most snakes will avoid you if they can.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83270)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
1 Dec 19
They seem deadly. How will they be killed? Spray them or pour the with boiling water
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83270)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
4 Dec 19
@JudyEv , they should be eliminated .
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Dec 19
@cacay1 They will certainly be trying to eliminate them.
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 19
I guess they have pesticides which isn't always the best solution but they are the authorities so hopefully they will do the right thing.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
29 Nov 19
I’ve heard about them, but have never seen one here or in Florida.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv I live on the water, so doubt there are many, if any, there.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
@DianneN Apparently they can build rafts if they sense water levels are rising. lol
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Jeff seems to think they are reasonably common in Florida. They sound a bit more worrying than your usual ant. Hopefully you won't come across any.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (115620)
• United States
28 Nov 19
oh boy. That sounds awful.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
They don't sound the sort of thing you want to run into.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
28 Nov 19
I have seen this one eating ants.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
So you have them there too?
2 people like this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv Nope. I saw it on cable when I was confined last March.
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv I am not sure about that.
2 people like this
@Nevena83 (65287)
• Serbia
28 Nov 19
They sound like real pests.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 19
@Nevena83 I am afraid it might be too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
They're trying to eradicate these nests and will be searching for more. They're hoping to stop them from getting established.
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@Nevena83 (65287)
• Serbia
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv I think it will be difficult.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
29 Nov 19
Very nasty those by the sound of it. We have hugs wasps nests around the country and the wasps are not from here either. Nice photo.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
30 Nov 19
@JudyEv They never say anything positive about it all.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 19
I hope they've been able to find them all and get rid of them.
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@jstory07 (133754)
• Roseburg, Oregon
29 Nov 19
I would not want to be bitten by a fire ant.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (133754)
• Roseburg, Oregon
3 Dec 19
@JudyEv That.is scary.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Dec 19
From all the reports I've read they sound very nasty. LadyDuck has to carry an epipen in case she gets bitten so that's pretty serious.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
28 Nov 19
Oh my goodness Judy, those little beats seem very dangerous. A small red ant bite me years ago and I remember it was incredibly painful.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv The very small red ants that we have here are not the same, they are so small that you almost cannot see them, but you feel their bites.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
They don't sound good that's for sure although Jeff says they are all over Florida.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Nov 19
i sure hope those numbats find 'em quite tasty. seems those ants 're quite prolific. wonder where they were imported from??? hopefully this new invasion 'tis been caught quickly. those bites 're very painful 'n bein' a new species there, no tellin's how bad a reaction folks'd 've if'n they'd the misfortune to be bitten.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Nov 19
@JudyEv shame'n ya! jest kiddin' :) i hope they found 'em all, too. if'n not though, i hope y'all 've plenty to prey 'pon 'em. once they get well 'stablished, 'tis a nightmare to get rid 'f 'em.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
I have mislead readers a little as the numbats are not found anywhere near the nests of the fire ants. They've found six nests at the port and hope they have found them all.
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@Hannihar (129095)
• Israel
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv Judy, thank you for explaining that. I would never want to be stung.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
They don't sound good, do they?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129095)
• Israel
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv Judy, they certainly do not sound good.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
28 Nov 19
Fire ants are not my friend. Bad experience when I was younger.
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov 19
Their bites do sound really painful.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Nov 19
@CarolDM And for some, it's even worse.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
29 Nov 19
@JudyEv Not good with redness and swelling.
1 person likes this