An outbreak of extremely invasive, and damaging crimson fireplace ants has been noticed simply over three miles away from the New South Wales (NWS) border in Queensland, Australia.

The Invasive Species Council spokesperson, Reece Pianta has stated: “If fire ants spread across Australia they will be worse than rabbits, cane tones, foxes, and feral cats combined.”

The NWS state is at “extreme risk” of being invaded, with a single queen ant’s flight now sufficient to spark an infestation.

An assault from a hearth ant can immediately trigger intense ache and itching. Ants use their venom to stun their prey and might sting a number of instances. The wounds are sometimes pus-filled blisters that may seem like spots, however the stings additionally are available in clusters.

Mr Pinta defined sports activities fields and seashores had been being closed in Queensland due to the “extremely painful” sting inflicted by the ants.

He added: “Fire ants will devastate our native wildlife and cause billions of dollars in lost agricultural production every year.”

Australian news retailers report the invention of the fireplace ant nest at Tallebudgera on Queenland’s Gold Coast has prompted additional requires fast-tracked funding.

Agricultural ministers agreed to deliver ahead as much as $60m (£31m) that had been allotted to be spent subsequent yr which is the final of a pool of $400m (£209m) put aside for fireplace ant management in 2017.

The fund was meant to final till 2027, however the issue has already reached such a scale the cash will run out in mid-2024.

The ants, initially from South America, had been imported to Australia within the late 90s in freight from the US however weren’t found till 2001.

Despite the Australian authorities investing hundreds of thousands within the eradication program, the ants have been present in no less than 10 places throughout the Gold Coast.

The federal agriculture minister, Murray Watt, stated though “additional effort” can be wanted to realize targets to eradicate the pests, the unfold had already been “significantly slowed” by management programmes.