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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Ben Smee

Fire ants breach Queensland containment zones six times as authorities try to stop march to NSW border

A close up of the imported red fire ant found in Brisbane
Fire ants swarm aggressively and inflict a sting that can itch and burn for an hour. In rare cases, people have died from allergic reactions. Photograph: AAP

Fire ants have breached containment zones in south-east Queensland six times in the past six weeks, triggering the expansion of biosecurity controls at the New South Wales border.

The imported red fire ants – considered one of the world’s worst invasive species – were detected at a site at Tallebudgera last week, about 5.5km from the NSW border. The find was the farthest south the pest has been detected in Queensland.

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