Fire Ants Utilize Rafts for Travel Amidst Australia's Storm Devastation

In the aftermath of severe storms in Australia, fire ants are exhibiting a unique behavior by forming rafts to navigate floodwaters, contributing to the propagation of one of the globe's most invasive species.

Regarded as a formidable pest, fire ants pose a significant threat by causing ecological disruptions and agricultural damage through their consumption of native flora and fauna. Additionally, their stings can prove fatal to humans.

The Invasive Species Council (ISC) notes that this atypical rafting behavior serves as evidence of escalating fire ant densities in Australia. The ISC urges communities in storm-affected regions, particularly in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, to remain vigilant as fire ants exploit flood currents to "establish footholds in new areas."

Video evidence of these rafting incidents has been recorded on cane farms located south of Brisbane, where fire ants have already infested approximately 700,000 hectares of land.

Originating from South America, red imported fire ants were initially identified in Queensland in 2001 and have largely been contained within the state's borders. The means of their entry into Australia remains unknown, but it is speculated that they might have arrived via shipping containers from the United States.

In November, authorities reported the emergence of several new fire ant nests extending into New South Wales from the Queensland border, marking the first such occurrence and prompting increased nationwide funding for eradication efforts.

The primary mode of fire ant spread is through contaminated soil and materials transported by humans. While winged fire ant queens can fly several kilometers, they can travel even greater distances when carried by wind currents.

Australia's distinct climate and the absence of natural predators create an ideal environment for fire ants, which could potentially inhabit the entire continent, except for the most extreme cold regions, if not effectively contained, according to biosecurity authorities.

A major concern among experts is the potential infiltration of the nation's Murray Darling River system by fire ants, followed by rapid expansion into new states and territories. A mature queen can lay up to 5,000 eggs per day, and a three-year-old colony may house as many as 100,000 fire ants.

In recent decades, fire ants have proliferated across various regions, including the United States, China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines, as reported by the Australian government.<