Electric ant

Alert

Have you seen electric ants?

Be on the lookout for electric ants and report them to Biosecurity Queensland. Early detection and reporting are the key elements in eradicating electric ants.

Call us on 13 25 23.

Native to Central and South America, electric ants are tiny and golden-brown. Electric ants prey on and compete with other insects and can displace large numbers of native animals, ants and other insects. They can also inflict painful stings on wild and domestic animals and on humans.

First detected in Cairns in 2006, electric ants are one of the world's most invasive pests. They affect human health and lifestyle, can blind pets, damage the environment, and have the potential to severely affect agricultural industries.

Electric ants are a category 1 restricted matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Under the Act, all Queenslanders have a general biosecurity obligation to manage biosecurity risks and threats that are under their control, they know about or they are expected to know about.

You must report suspected electric ants within 24 hours either online or by calling Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

Scientific name

Wasmannia auropunctata

Similar species

  • Pennant ant
  • Marauder ant
  • Coastal brown ant

Description

  • Tiny social ant about 1.5mm long.
  • Body is golden-brown.
  • Usually slow-moving.
  • Form distinct foraging lines.

Habitat

  • Establish colonies anywhere rather than having visible nests.
  • Found under stones, blocks, sleepers, logs and in garden waste, leaf litter, soil, trees, around swimming pools, watercourses.
  • Also found in wall cavities, clothing, bedding, garden equipment, camping gear.
  • Found in wet and dry conditions.
  • Can survive in water, may sting you in your swimming pool.

Distribution

Life cycle

  • Queens live for approximately 12 months and lay up to 70 eggs a day.
  • Eggs are incubated for 8-10 days.
  • Larvae develop for 14-16 days.
  • Nymphal stage lasts 13-14 days.
  • Adult workers live for more than 40 days.
  • Males live for several weeks.

Impacts

Environmental

  • Can out-compete and displace other ant species.
  • Can cause declines in numbers of invertebrates and small vertebrates—in the long term, dense infestations reduce overall biodiversity.
  • Thought to have reduced reptile populations in New Caledonia and tortoise populations in Galapagos Archipelago, where ants eat hatchlings and attack eyes and cloacae of adult tortoises.

Economic

  • Electric ants collect honeydew from sap-sucking insects and protect them from other predators. This can result in agricultural farms experiencing dieback and reduction in crop yield through reduced plant vigour and the spread of crop diseases such as sooty mould. In addition to lost crop production, direct production costs are increased by additional insecticide and fungicide treatment required.
  • In some countries, there has been a significant loss in tourism as their painful sting discourages outdoor recreational activities.

Social

  • Inflict painful stings on humans that cause painful, itchy, persistent pimples and, rarely, severe allergic reactions.
  • May sting, and possibly blind, domestic pets.
  • Dense infestations may leave backyards or pools unusable.
  • May invade insides of houses.

Control

Legal requirements

  • Electric ants are category 1 restricted matter under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Under the Act, all Queenslanders have a general biosecurity obligation to manage biosecurity risks and threats that are under their control, they know about or they are expected to know about. If you suspect electric ants you must report this within 24 hours by contacting the Customer Service Centre.
  • An electric ant biosecurity zone is in place in 5 council areas in Far North Queensland: Cairns Regional, Cassowary Coast Regional, Tablelands Regional, Mareeba Shire and the Douglas Shire. The biosecurity zone has been established to minimise the risk of moving materials (electric ant carriers) that could spread the pest.
  • Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 individuals and organisations within the biosecurity zone whose activities involve the movement of electric ant carriers have a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take all reasonable steps to ensure they do not spread electric ants.
  • When moving electric ant carriers from a property in the biosecurity zone, you must comply with the relevant movement controls—the biosecurity zone has 2 levels of restrictions: the lesser restrictions area, and the restricted zone. Use the electric ant interactive map to determine if your property is within the restricted zone. If it is, you must hold a biosecurity instrument permit, which allows you to move an electric ant carrier:
    • between properties within the restricted zone
    • from a property within the restricted zone to a property outside of the restricted zone.
  • A permit is not required if the electric ant carrier is moved to a waste facility that accepts electric ant carriers. Find an up-to-date list of applicable waste facilities.

Further information