Little Fire Ants detected in Beqa island, parts of Sigatoka, Namosi and Leluvia island

The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji confirms that Little Fire Ants have been detected in a few parts of Fiji including Beqa island, parts of Sigatoka, areas within the Namosi province and the Leleuvia island.

BAF says this ant is a uniform yellow, red to light brown colour and is 1.5mm in length.

They say the ants do not build mounded dirt nests but nest in various habitats including trees, around potted plants, on irrigation lines, and in electrical boxes.

The Authority says the ant is slow moving, and easily dislodged from leaves, plants and trees which is also known as the electric ant and is a small formidable pest with a painful sting.

BAF says the impacts of these ants on human health and agriculture are painful stings causing welts lasting for weeks, infestation in fields and farms, damaging crops and stinging workers and promotion of plant pests like aphids, flies and scale insects while social impacts are infestations in the house, bed and furnitures which may also sting animals.

The authority is calling on people to be vigilant and report any unusual ant activities, and implement stringent biosecurity measures to prevent further spread.