 |
Media Release |
25 March 2003
Crazy Ants found at Mount Maunganui wharf
Three crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis) nests were found during routine inspection at the Mount Maunganui wharf of the Port of Tauranga earlier this month.
The find was part of the national red imported fire ant and crazy ant surveillance led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). All three nests were found within a 50 metre radius of each other and have since been treated with insecticide. Ongoing monitoring of the site is in place.
Amelia Pascoe, MAF Programme coordinator Exotic Animal Response, said discovery of the nests followed the finding of 10 worker ants in one of the bait traps located at the wharf during the surveillance programme.
Ms Pascoe said MAF were concentrating on containing and eradicating these new finds, looking for any further signs of activity in the area, investigating likely source of entry and undertaking trace back activities to determine whether the ants had established elsewhere in region. She was keen to draw upon the support of businesses within the area to be on the alert for any signs of unusual ant activity.
"In particular people should contact MAF if they notice any extremely fast moving ants with an erratic walking pattern - which is what the crazy ant is named after. They have thinner bodies and longer front legs and antennae than most ants, but can be easily confused with other ants established in New Zealand. Crazy ants are black with an average size is 2.5 to 3mm," she said.
Awareness of exotic ants in the Mount Maunganui area is high due to the ongoing surveillance programme for Argentine ants run by Environment Bay of Plenty over the last four years. The programme has effectively drawn upon support from local businesses and the community in controlling and eradicating the pest.
MAF became aware of the presence of crazy ants in New Zealand in April last year when two species of the ant were found on wharves at the Auckland port. These infestations were chemically treated and monitoring of these sites is continuing.
The national invasive ant surveillance programme runs from January to April. Activities in Tauranga run from February to March.
For more information on crazy ants go to www.maf.govt.nz/crazy-ants
Or contact: Amelia Pascoe, 021 770 310
