Fire ant pests destroyed at mill

KATE NEWTON
The third extermination of a red imported fire ant (RIFA) nest in New Zealand's history - and the second in Napier - began at Whiranaki yesterday.
A staff member at Pan Pac mill on Thursday found the large nest of reddish-brown, stinging South American fire ants while moving materials.
Trained to spot unwanted alien bugs, he contacted Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry staff.
No one had been stung by the aggresive ants and managing director Doug Ducker said staff had been congratulated for handling the situation well.
It is not known how the ants made their way to Whirinaki, just north of Napier.
Biosecurity New Zealand senior advisor Sonya Bissmire said RIFA were a known pest and the ministry had systems in place to deal with them.
"It will involve further surveillance, with ant baits and traps," she said. "Treating and excavating the nest will tell us a lot more about how long the ants have been there.
Forensic examination of the ants will also provide information, though that will take time."
The two earlier RIFA finds in border control areas were at Auckland International Airport in 2001 and at the Port of Napier in 2004. Both nests were destroyed.
"At this stage there is no obvious link with the earlier Napier incursion," Ms Bissmire said.
Biosecurity New Zealand will also talk to residents in the area to answer questions .
"There's no need to be alarmed, but what is really important is that people don't disturb potential nests," Ms Bissmire said.
The red ants build mounds of fine, granulated soil. Disturbing a nest could prompt them to remove their queen and start another colony elsewhere.
The nests can be up to a metre wide and high and are often built in sunny open areas, sometimes against a wall, post or shrub. They are also known to build colonies in electrical boxes and the walls of homes.
If a RIFA nest is disturbed the ants rapidly swarm out and over the mound to defend the nest and sting anything nearby.
The sting of a RIFA is said to be similar to that of a bee. Symptoms include intense burning and itching which usually subsides within the first hour but can return during the next few days. A blister forms within five hours, followed by a pustule within a few days.
If you think you have found a RIFA nest call Biosecurity New Zealand on 0800 809966.