Post AwF8Oq2EbCLU5wl0Qi by futurebird@sauropods.win
 (DIR) More posts by futurebird@sauropods.win
 (DIR) Post #AwF8Al0GVh36R27beq by jhaue@aus.social
       2025-07-17T23:28:35Z
       
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       Because the dimwits thought they'd save a bit of money in the early stages:Fears Australia will lose its war on fire ants, suffering the same fate as the US https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-18/america-lost-fire-ant-battle-will-australia-win/105520050
       
 (DIR) Post #AwF8AmAw9VBC4Q7dvk by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-18T01:56:44Z
       
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       @jhaue I don't think you'll want to hear this but I don't think it's possible to eliminate them from such a large region. It might be possible on an island... a small one, but this idea of pushing them to the coast is a fantasy. There is no way they are contained in the zone. That's just where there are large conspicuous nests. These ants can persist in a cryptic state as well. But, I won't just be negative.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwF8Oq2EbCLU5wl0Qi by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-18T01:59:21Z
       
       0 likes, 1 repeats
       
       @jhaue Since you can't get rid of them it's worth looking into factors like phorid flies that control their spread. There is a guy in the article who says he's spent 1.5 million fighting them on his farm, but he has a LAWN. Mowed grass is a problem. In their native range they don't dominate like they do in suburban lawns and mowed fields. These ants thrive on disturbed soil when you irrigate it. Can their habitat be reduced?I bet they don't do well with the native plants.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwFAMyU2Ptjfcu081Y by futurebird@sauropods.win
       2025-07-18T02:21:23Z
       
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       @jhaue From an ant conservation perspective, Australia is one of the most diverse and important ant habitats. The only bright side is that these ants are not well adapted to the *wild* habitats, of which there are many. They really are ants that struggle but survive in the Amazon, and thrive in hot suburbs with lawns and sprinklers. So at least the native ants probably won't be harmed. I hope.
       
 (DIR) Post #AwFQJbeKSHNrCpELRY by jhaue@aus.social
       2025-07-18T05:09:48Z
       
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       @futurebird Thanks. Yes, the mistakes were made at the beginning of the outbreak, when there might have been some chance of eradication.