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Can I Move Soil, Mulch or Turf in a Fire Ant Zone?

Written by PestMan Editorial TeamTechnical review pendingPublished Updated

Quick answer

Possibly, but check first. Fire ants spread when infested soil, mulch, compost, turf, hay, gravel or potted plants are moved. Within Queensland’s fire ant biosecurity zones, there are rules about moving these materials, which apply to residents as well as businesses. The zones and requirements change, so check the National Fire Ant Eradication Program’s current rules before moving materials.

Why this happens

Most long-distance spread of fire ants happens through people moving materials that contain ants or queens, not through the ants travelling on their own.

Materials that can carry fire ants include soil, fill, mulch, compost, manure, turf, hay and straw, gravel and sand, potted plants and landscaping supplies. Equipment used to move soil can carry them too.

Biosecurity zones and movement requirements are set by the Queensland Government and the Program, and are updated as the infestation and eradication effort change.

What you can do

  • Check whether your property is in a fire ant biosecurity zone on the Program’s website.
  • Read the current requirements for moving the material you have.
  • Inspect materials and your property for mounds before moving anything.
  • When buying soil, mulch or turf, ask suppliers how they meet fire ant requirements.
  • Clean soil from tools, vehicles and equipment before leaving the site.

What not to do

  • Do not move material from an area with suspected fire ants; report the ants instead.
  • Do not assume garden materials are exempt because the quantity is small.
Using pest products safely

Fire ant rules, biosecurity zones and reporting details are set by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and can change. Check the Program’s website for current requirements before acting.

When professional help may be needed

Businesses that move or supply these materials may have specific obligations, and should check requirements with the Program. Landscapers and earthmoving contractors in SEQ should be familiar with them.

Ants

Social insects that live in colonies and follow scent trails to food and water. Most ant problems in homes are nuisance foraging trails from colonies outside the house.

Species mentioned

Red Imported Fire Ant

Solenopsis invicta

An invasive South American ant first found in Brisbane in 2001 and now the target of a national eradication program. It builds loose soil mounds in open areas, swarms when disturbed and stings repeatedly. Suspected fire ants must be reported, not treated.

Guide

Fire Ants in South East Queensland

How to recognise red imported fire ants, what to do if you find them or are stung, how the National Fire Ant Eradication Program works, and what the biosecurity rules mean for households in South East Queensland.

Guide

Common Brisbane Household Pests

A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.

Guide

How to Pest-Proof Your Home

A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.

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Sources & further reading

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