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LOCAL AND FEDERAL authorities in Australia have committed $400 million (€272 million) over the next decade towards eradicating the red fire ant, which is a non-native species.
Red ants, which can cause an anaphylactic shock in humans if you’ve been bitten by the insects repeatedly, cause around 86 death in the US per year.
A government report obtained by ABC News in 2016 estimated that if the ants were not eradicated, they could be responsible for up to 3,000 anaphylactic reactions in Australia per year.
They could also have a substantial impact on Australia’s agriculture sector, both on crops and livestock.
Efforts have been made by authorities to stop the spread of the ants from Queensland to other parts of Australia in the past few years; now, a new committee will be established to create a coordinated approach, in the hope that it will be more successful than past attempts.
“Our fire-ant fighters have finally been given the war chest they need to eradicate deadly fire ants from Australia,” the Invasive Species Council’s CEO Andrew Cox told ABC.
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Billions of fire ants in the US and only 86 people die each year. Talk about painting a group with a broad brush. #notallfireants #stopantaphobia
@James Dolan: ant life’s matter
What right does anyone or country have to eradicate an entire species of animal or insect native or not from their country? What % of modern day Aussies are not native 99%?
@Keith Hanley: Did you not know Keith that us humans own this planet?
@Frank Cooney: We are the most invasive species!
Another case were humans try to control a species.people have are very quick to forget what happened at Jurassic park back in the 90s. #prayforjurassicpark
@Frank Cooney: time to get your coat Frank.
@Keith Hanley: “Don’t kid yourself Jimmy, if a cow ever got the chance he’d eat you and everyone you cared about! “
Geez that’s a sting in the pants.
@Gordon Jono Power: eh that nothing compared to crabs in your pants bel
Bel
Believe me
Fair play Jamie, you got there in the end!
Typical sensationalism to use a picture that depicts the ant as evil and menacing! Could you not have found a nice picture of ants carrying a piece of cake away from a picnic on a sunny day while a smiling family looks on? Disgraceful!
Eradication of the fire ant is not possible so it shouldn’t be the goal of the undertaking. The best that can be achieved is a temporary local reduction in their numbers which will probably build back up rapidly to equilibrium.
Sounds like another Emu war.
Throw all them there Jeeeeehadists, into a barrel of them.
Eradicate ants ? Be easier to empty the ocean with a thimble.
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