Did you know?
- They are copper-brown in colour, with a darker abdomen.
- They inflict a fiery sting and are usually aggressive.
- Their nests usually have no obvious entry hole.
- Leaves are compound with three broad leaflets each up to 10cm across.
- Flowers are purple-pink, fragrant, about 1-1.5cm long.
- Taproot is massive, up to 1.8m long, 15cm in diameter, 180kg.
- Pods are brown, flat, hairy, 5cm long, containing 3-10 small, hard, oval seeds.
- Most reproduction is vegetative as roots form where stems touch ground.
- In South East Queensland the Kudzu vine will shed its leaves annually.
Fire ants are one of the world's most invasive species.
Fire ants pose a serious risk to our economy, environment, lifestyle and community. Fire ants have the potential to inhabit the majority of the city.
Mature fire ant colonies can contain 200,000 to 400,000 workers. A distinctive feature of fire ant workers is their range of sizes. Within one nest, adult workers can vary in size from 2-6mm. How to identify a fire ant:
Fire ants are highly aggressive and will swarm their victims and sting at the same time. Their stings can lead to anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.
There is a Queensland Government led management program in place for fire ants and if you suspect you have seen fire ants, call Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 or complete the online fire ant notification form.
The above information and image were sourced from Biosecurity Queensland.
The Tilapia fish are one of the greatest threats to Australia's native biodiversity.
The Tilapia were first introduced into Australia as an ornamental fish and are now regarded as one of the greatest threats to Australia's native biodiversity.
The City of Gold Coast in partnership with the Gold Coast Fishing Fanatics delivers a Tilapia buster community fishing day that has removed over one tonne of the pest fish tilapia in the city’s lakes.
The next Tilapia buster community fishing day is scheduled for 3 November 2018. Why not come and wet a line. For more information visit the Gold Coast Fishing Fanatics Tilapia Busters event page on Facebook.
The Kudzu vine can grow up to 20cm a day and can smother entire forests.
The city has three known sites of kudzu and plans to remove it from the city by 2028. You can help the City by reporting any sightings of the Kudzu to 1300 GOLDCOAST.
How to identify the Kudzu vine:
