Tiny insects with painful, fiery sting feared to be hitching rides on vehicles

Red fire ants, which survived floodwaters in south-east Queensland earlier this month, are feared to be hitching a ride on vehicles and travelling to new areas, leaving people with painful and fiery stings.

The invasive pests formed "rafts" during Cyclone Alfred by linking their legs together, which allowed them to float in the floods, according to the Invasive Species Council.

Experts are worried the fire ants have since spread to new areas, with vehicles unknowingly being used as a way to transport the invasive pest.

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"This flood-borne spread is a serious problem a lot of people are not aware of. Since the floods, entire (red fire ants) colonies have been filmed clinging on to debris, ready to make nests on dry ground in Queensland and beyond," Autonomy director Amanda Lintott, who created an automotive surface treatment to kill insects like fire ants, said.

"Experts have been reported warning that extreme weather events could sweep the highly invasive species into other parts of Australia, now and in the future.

"Private and commercial drivers often won't even know they have unwelcome guests aboard or about their vehicle until they sting."

Lintott said fire ants can swarm within seconds and sting simultaneously, leaving people with painful bites, which authorities say can give a sensation that the body is "on fire".

Bites can be potentially life-threatening if a severe reaction occurs. In that instance, people are advised to seek immediate medical attention.

Typically, most people will not need medical treatment and can apply a cold compress and take an antihistamine to manage the symptoms of the bite.

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The Invasive Species Council earlier this month shared disturbing footage of swarms of fire ants in flood-affected areas like Logan, Scenic Rim and northern Gold Coast and issued a warning they could enter carrier materials and spread across Australia.

Fire ants are native to South America but were detected in Brisbane in February 2001.

How they entered our borders is unknown but authorities believe they hitchhiked on shipping containers from America.

The ants are any two to six millimetres long but can cause devastating environmental, economic, social and health impacts.

"'Fire ants are one of the world's worst super pests and their unchecked spread will result in economic damage greater than that caused by cane toads, rabbits, feral cats and foxes combined," Invasive Species Council advocacy manager Reece Pianta said.

"Ultimately, the risk they pose is to infest all of Australia and most of Tasmania," Lintott said.

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So far, the fire ants are only known to be in south-east Queensland but have been detected and eradicated in parts of northern New South Wales.

The Queensland government on Monday announced it will pour a record $24 million into fire ant suppression to control the spread of the pest across 212,000 hectares over two years.

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