Latest news with #invasivepests
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Dogs might be the key to getting rid of pesky spotted lanternflies before they even become a problem
There's a new hero in the fight against invasive spotted lanternflies: your dogs. For the first time, people and their pups were able to effectively detect the eggs that hatch the pesky Asian pests, which have the ability to damage trees, crops, and other plants. The egg masses – including 30 to 50 eggs – are notoriously hard to find, according to researchers at Virginia Tech and Texas Tech Universities. 'They often resemble mud smears or lichens and are tucked into bark crevices, cracks, or hidden undersides,' Mizuho Nita, a plant pathologist at Virginia Tech's Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center, said in a statement. 'Finding them is like searching for a needle in a haystack.' More than 180 teams of dogs of different breeds and their owners were given non-hatching egg masses to train with at home or in small groups. Following several months of training, the dogs were tested in indoors and outdoor environments. The canines had to complete an odor recognition test, distinguishing the box with the spotted lanternfly eggs from multiple boxes that contained different items. Those that passed the test, advanced to a field test where they were required to identify the scent in an outdoor environment with competing smells. Of the dogs that passed both tests, 92 percent were successful in finding the eggs. Some 82 percent of the time, the dogs correctly identified the egg boxes. While that percentage dropped to 61 percent outdoors, that's still better than many human searches, the researchers noted. Dogs have a sense of smell that's tens of thousands of times more acute than those of humans. They can also find the eggs without disturbing the environment. While professional dogs can do this, there aren't nearly enough of them and they're expensive. The project, which was supported by the Department of Agriculture and published in the journal Zoological Science, could also be helpful for detecting powdery mildew with over 90 percent accuracy, according to a separate study authored by the researchers. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that impacts vineyards, much like spotted lanternflies do. Not finding the insects may cost the New York grape industry millions of dollars, according to researchers at Cornell University. First detected in 2014, the Asian natives have spread across 18 states, laying eggs on lumber, cars, stones, and other surfaces, threatening the central and eastern U.S. Since then, campaigns to stomp out the spotted lanternflies in major Northeast cities have been successful — although, some residents have questioned whether people should kill them. Hatching from April through June, this summer they've returned to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Some cities, including the Big Apple, may not see as many as they did just a few summers ago. 'It might seem like spotted lanternfly is not as big a problem as it seemed a few years ago,' Cornell's Allan Pinto said earlier this year. 'This reminds people: It might not be bad if you do something, but if you don't, it could be really bad.'
ABC News
17-07-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Fears Australia will lose its war on fire ants, suffering the same fate as the US
They swarm, they sting, they're invasive, and they could be in your backyard soon. Fire ants — named for their painful, burning sting — have relentlessly marched across south-east Queensland, steadily spreading north, south and west. But in the United States, the imported "super pest" is more than an emerging nuisance. It's a daily hazard, according to Mark Hoddle from the University of California's Applied Biological Control Research Centre. "If the kids are out in the yard and they tread on one of these nests, the ants just boil out of it," Professor Hoddle said. As Australia battles to protect its beloved outdoor lifestyle, America's experience demonstrates the cost of losing this war. The National Fire Ant Eradication Program received at least 463 reports of critical fire ant stings this year. In four cases an ambulance was called, and 20 cases required hospitalisation. In the US, it's estimated more than 14 million people are stung each year. Professor Hoddle has studied fire ants and how to kill them for three decades. The insects gained a foothold in the US in the 1930s, after being imported among cargo from South America. What followed was a insecticidal war, described by Professor Hoddle as "the Vietnam of entomology". "It just seems like an intractable problem." Fire ants now infest more than 150 million hectares across 15 southern US states — an area larger than the Northern Territory. In Australia, a similar pattern is unfolding, including rising opposition to the chemical treatments that experts say are vital to getting the pest under control. On Queensland's Scenic Rim, Kirsty McKenna has seen the number of fire ant nests at her property spread from one, to thousands. Ms McKenna runs a fire ant Facebook group, with posts venting frustration over what many see as a broken system. "People are disheartened — we feel like we're on our own battling this issue," she said. "People are saying they're no longer bothering to report, which worries me." Fire ant queens can fly up to 5 kilometres and lay about 2,000 eggs a day. When a nest is disturbed, a pheromone is released, causing the ants to swarm and sting repeatedly. Virginia Tech assistant professor of entomology Scotty Yang has studied fire ants in China, Taiwan, Australia and the US. Repeated multiple stings can cause severe allergic reactions, which can be fatal for those with underlying conditions. "You're going to have pustules develop on your skin, it's going to be super itchy," Dr Yang said. "You scratch them, you break the pustule and there's a likelihood you're going to get the secondary infections." A 2024 study published in the journal Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease found about a quarter of people stung developed an allergic reaction. Dr Yang said humans were largely responsible for spreading fire ants beyond their natural barriers. Early eradication attempts in the US drenched nests with pesticides like calcium cyanide, a toxic chemical that is now rarely used. It killed the worker ants, but Dr Yang said it left the queen unharmed deep underground to rebuild the nest. Colonies also hitched rides on the backs of trucks, planes and boats transporting materials like soil, hay and turf. Fire ants were first detected in Brisbane in 2001 but have surged across south-east Queensland in recent years. They now infest around 850,000 hectares and have spread south of the border into the Tweed, Ballina and Byron Shires. This month, fire ants were located at a coal mine near Mackay, central Queensland, and in a freight container at Perth. Under a $592 million program, an eradication zone stretches around south-east Queensland, where the National Fire Ant Eradication Program directly exterminates fire ant nests. But within that area is the suppression zone, where landholders are required to manage nests themselves. The goal is to treat the outer infested area and push inward, squeezing progressively towards the coast, wiping out ant populations as they go. But the strategy has been criticised by residents, who fear populations in the suppression zone can spread unchecked, undermining the entire program. Inside the suppression zone, turf farmer John Keleher has spent $1.5 million over the past two years managing fire ants on his property near Beaudesert. "It's two to three hours of my day every day just complying with the necessary paperwork and treatment regime," he said. Agricultural businesses like his must monitor their land regularly, apply bait or treatments on schedule, and submit detailed records for inspection. But those rules do not apply to Mr Keleher's neighbours who live on rural residential blocks. Instead, rural residents fall under a system that relies on self-reporting. Mr Keleher fears it allows fire ant nests to go unnoticed and untreated. "I'm directly looking into a neighbour's property and the pest population of ants there is endemic," he said. National Fire Ant Eradication Program general manager of operations Marni Manning said the density of fire ants had increased beyond what the community accepted. She said efforts inside the suppression zone were being expanded, including aerial baiting. "The more we weaken the population in the suppression area, the better eradication effectiveness will be," she said. Although landholders are legally required to allow biosecurity officers onto their properties, there has been resistance, which Ms Manning believes is fed in part by misinformation. Crews have required police escorts to access some properties, and Southern Cross University recently came under fire for funding research by an anti-bait conspiracy theorist. Professor Hoddle said similar dynamics derailed eradication efforts in the US. "When there is not sufficient collective action for the public good, the programs collapse," he said. Ms Manning said even if some landholders did not take action, eradication could still be achieved if the majority complied. "We are trying really hard to explain to the community what the reality is if we don't eradicate," she said. The National Fire Ant Eradication Program uses corn grit baits soaked in soybean oil that contain pyriproxyfen or methoprene, both insect growth regulators approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. The chemicals prevent fire ant queens from producing mature worker ants, killing a colony over a couple of months. Part of the program involves dropping baits from helicopters, prompting concerns from residents about the environmental impact. But Invasive Species Council advocacy manager Reece Pianta said it was among the most environmentally friendly approaches over a large area. "Native ants will forage this product and take it away, but the product is designed so the oil component of it is far more attractive to fire ants," he said. A baiting program is underway to control fire ants spreading through the Northern Rivers region of NSW. Ms Manning said the baiting program was critical to containing the pest. But the clock is ticking for the rest of Australia. Beyond the medical, environmental and economic cost of fire ants is the risk to outdoor lifestyles. Outdoor events, camping trips, days at the beach and backyard barbecues all become complicated when you have to be on alert for aggressive, stinging ants. Professor Hoddle said Australia had a narrow window to stop fire ants, but it could already be too late. "With a lot of these programs it often reaches a critical area of infestation where containment may or may not be possible," he said. But Professor Yang said eradication could be achieved if governments, landholders and everyday Australians acted fast. "It's a big shock to me — I thought Australia had a really good chance to eradicate." Ms Manning said the program was committed to the fight, with Queensland spending an additional $24 million over two years to bolster suppression. "These super pests stand to inhabit at least 97 per cent of this country," she said. "They're projected to cause more damage than cane toads, camels, foxes and feral pigs — all combined. "We're not giving up on eradication."
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Watch: Invasive super pest found 'chewing' through backyard lawn mower
Australians are being warned their lawnmowers and other garden equipment could be harbouring invasive pests as the threat of fire ants continues to sweep through parts of the country, prompting calls for the federal government to spend more to tackle the spread. The ants pose a catastrophic risk to the environment, and the 'super pests' happily find refuge in gardening devices covered in organic material. This means a long list of tools, such as lawn mowers, whipper snippers, and other outdoor appliances can potentially host a new colony. This was the case last week for a resident in Queensland's Scenic Rim region, when their mower was discovered to be crawling with fire ants. Authorities have since urged residents to be vigilant of the risk, warning them to do their bit to avoid the spread of the invasive critter. "Fire ants are great stowaways, and they love to get into organic material in particular... So, grass clippings are an excellent place for fire ants to make a home and then potentially be transported to other locations," Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council (ISC) told Yahoo News on Wednesday. Fire ants 'eat almost anything' including electrical wires Fire ants are notorious eaters, and not only do they have the ability to spread rapidly, but they also make the most of food sources once they are established at new sites. "They will have a go to eat almost anything, and that includes coatings on electrical wires, joints, rubber connectors," Pianta explained. "Any mechanical or electrical device, particularly if it's used outside in a garden context, and this extends to motor vehicles as well." 🌱 Crews caught with illegal garden items fined $60,000 amid 'serious' crackdown 🐟 Dad's fight against invasive threat spreading 'everywhere' in our waterways 🐜 Fury as fire ants hit major coalmine Reece is urging all who live in and around the fire ant areas to conduct regular inspections of their garden appliances, as well as their car wheels, to detect any fire ants. Ensuring no organic clippings are left inside devices will help minimise the spread. "Empty out the catcher of your mower," he urged. "Don't leave the clippings in there, and clean it down. It's also good advice to clean things that are being moved from place to place." This advice was echoed by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, which urged residents to empty grass clippings from their garden appliances, clean them afterwards and frequently check their property for any fire ant sightings. Fire ant 'explosion' will hinder backyard enjoyment, says shadow agricultural minister David Littleproud, the Leader of the Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, warned on Thursday the fire ant situation has sadly been allowed to get out of hand. "This is something that I think every Australian should be worried about," he told ABC Radio National, arguing it will prevent homeowners and residents from enjoying their backyards. "These things will render your backyard useless. You won't be able to go out into it until you've treated it," he said. "We actually, tragically had this contained to a very tight geographical area in southeast Queensland" he lamented, but Littleproud argued decisions by the previous state government around housing developments and the movement of dirt allowed the species to spread. "They allowed dirt to be moved from one part of southeast Queensland to the other, and it just exploded," he said. Littleproud is now calling on a federal government commitment of $200 million a year for the next four years to try to eradicate the fire ant populations. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aussies warned over invasive threat 'chewing' through backyard lawn mowers
Australians are being warned their lawnmowers and other garden equipment could be harbouring invasive pests as the threat of fire ants continues to sweep through parts of the country, prompting calls for the federal government to spend more to tackle the spread. The ants pose a catastrophic risk to the environment, and the 'super pests' happily find refuge in gardening devices covered in organic material. This means a long list of tools, such as lawn mowers, whipper snippers, and other outdoor appliances can potentially host a new colony. This was the case last week for a resident in Queensland's Scenic Rim region, when their mower was discovered to be crawling with fire ants. Authorities have since urged residents to be vigilant of the risk, warning them to do their bit to avoid the spread of the invasive critter. "Fire ants are great stowaways, and they love to get into organic material in particular... So, grass clippings are an excellent place for fire ants to make a home and then potentially be transported to other locations," Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council (ISC) told Yahoo News on Wednesday. Fire ants 'eat almost anything' including electrical wires Fire ants are notorious eaters, and not only do they have the ability to spread rapidly, but they also make the most of food sources once they are established at new sites. "They will have a go to eat almost anything, and that includes coatings on electrical wires, joints, rubber connectors," Pianta explained. "Any mechanical or electrical device, particularly if it's used outside in a garden context, and this extends to motor vehicles as well." 🌱 Crews caught with illegal garden items fined $60,000 amid 'serious' crackdown 🐟 Dad's fight against invasive threat spreading 'everywhere' in our waterways 🐜 Fury as fire ants hit major coalmine Reece is urging all who live in and around the fire ant areas to conduct regular inspections of their garden appliances, as well as their car wheels, to detect any fire ants. Ensuring no organic clippings are left inside devices will help minimise the spread. "Empty out the catcher of your mower," he urged. "Don't leave the clippings in there, and clean it down. It's also good advice to clean things that are being moved from place to place." This advice was echoed by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, which urged residents to empty grass clippings from their garden appliances, clean them afterwards and frequently check their property for any fire ant sightings. Fire ant 'explosion' will hinder backyard enjoyment, says shadow agricultural minister David Littleproud, the Leader of the Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, warned on Thursday the fire ant situation has sadly been allowed to get out of hand. "This is something that I think every Australian should be worried about," he told ABC Radio National, arguing it will prevent homeowners and residents from enjoying their backyards. "These things will render your backyard useless. You won't be able to go out into it until you've treated it," he said. "We actually, tragically had this contained to a very tight geographical area in southeast Queensland" he lamented, but Littleproud argued decisions by the previous state government around housing developments and the movement of dirt allowed the species to spread. "They allowed dirt to be moved from one part of southeast Queensland to the other, and it just exploded," he said. Littleproud is now calling on a federal government commitment of $200 million a year for the next four years to try to eradicate the fire ant populations. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Critical federal funds' missing for rural communities, wildfire relief in Kansas
TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) reports that crucial federal dollars that it uses to help rural farmers by fighting wildfires and invasive pests are missing this year. State Forester Jason Hartman said in a press release on July 15 that expected disbursements of federal dollars through the U.S. Forest Service's (FS) State, Private and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) programs have yet to arrive. He said the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is holding back the current year's SPTF funds that were appropriated by Congress in early 2025. The KFS previously put out a call for help in May ahead of approval on this year's controversial federal budget due to the cuts it would make to the service's ability to help farmers combat wildfires and resist layoffs. The FS told state forestry agencies nationwide on June 28 to prepare for the possibility of no funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2025. Man sentenced for raping, killing Topeka five-year-old girl in 2023 'In a normal year, States would have agreements in place by now for the suite of state capacity programs we together deliver for forest landowners, communities, and firefighters.' KFS Jason Hartman press release excerpt Hartman listed off numerous ways the loss of federal dollars would negatively impact the Sunflower State in the days ahead. Some of the chief losses include the following: Rural fire departments More than 50 training courses per year that provide training to more than 1,500 rural firefighters. Federal excess property including trucks, generators and hand-tools. 30 public education events. Direct assistance with more than 4,000 wildfires each year. Kansas landowners Nearly 200 technical assistance consultations. Plans for the creation of more than 40 windbreaks. More than 60 forest management practice plans. Hundreds of forestry cost-share program contracts. Rural communities Support for more than 90 Tree City USA locations. Dozens of educational workshops. Hundreds of technical assistance visits. 20 rural community canopy inventories. 'This is a true giant': Man breaks Kansas blue catfish record with 121-pound Missouri River monster Hartman also said the funding losses will prevent the KFS from providing resources necessary to track, detect, identify and monitor invasive pests that threaten Kansas' wooded areas. He said it isn't known why the OMB has yet to disperse the appropriated funds from Congress but the continued delay is harming the Sunflower State. 'Despite being designated for urgent use, these funds remain inaccessible. For them to truly benefit Kansas communities, the Kansas Forest Service must receive them with enough lead time to prepare and execute grant agreements before OMB's August 15th deadline. Without timely action from OMB, these resources risk going unused, despite their clear intent and need.' KFS Jason Hartman press release excerpt For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
