WA has achieved Area Freedom for browsing ant, which could have become a significant horticultural, environmental and community pest if allowed to establish.
A five-year nationally funded campaign stamped out infestations at 15 freight and transport premises, including at Fremantle Port, Welshpool, East Rockingham and Bayswater.
Since the initial detection in 2019, more than 6000 inspections were undertaken at more than 2700 premises, including extensive regional surveillance from Kununurra to Esperance.
Specialist odour detection dogs were called in from the Queensland-based National Fire Ant Eradication Program to help verify surveillance efforts on the ground.
Support from businesses, tenants and residents was vital to the positive result.
This is the second time browsing ant has been eradicated from WA, after a previous incursion at the Perth Airport and surrounding transport corridor in 2013.
Browsing ants are a significant pest which form multi-queened super-colonies and monopolise food resources, quickly reaching very high populations and displacing native ant species and other invertebrates.
DPIRD Biosecurity Executive Director Victoria Aitken welcomed the milestone and urged the community to remain vigilant and alert for invasive species.
“This is a great achievement and a testament to the hard work of the department’s highly skilled biosecurity team and the community,” Ms Aitken said.
“As global transport linkages become increasingly vast and complex, government, industry and community need to work together to keep WA safe from pests and diseases.
“Please report suspect pests or diseases immediately – even if unsure – using the MyPestGuide Reporter app or contact DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service.”
The MyPestGuide™ Reporter app can be downloaded at mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au. Alternatively, telephone the Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080 or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.
