Blitz squashes crazy ants at Qld sites but war rolls on
Yellow crazy ants have been eradicated from two large sites south of Cairns after years of intense effort, but many more battlegrounds remain.
invasive species
Fire ants invade Qld islands, raising fears for K’gari
There are fears fire ants could invade World Heritage-listed K'gari after 130 nests were found on another large sand island off Brisbane.
Call to arms to tackle national invasion of feral deer
Most of Australia could be invaded by feral deer without coordinated efforts to control and cull them, the first national plan of attack warns.
Funding fears risk taking heat out of fire ants fight
Government documents indicate a shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars in fire ant funding and could mean the super pest keeps spreading, critics say.
Infestation threat as fire ant nest found near border
The discovery of a new fire ant nest within kilometres of the NSW border has renewed calls for fast-tracked funding to eliminate the dangerous pest.
Soil ban in force to stop fire ant spread into NSW
Fire ant spread will be worse than rabbits, cane toads, foxes and feral cats combined, the Invasive Species Council says as biosecurity controls are triggered.
Half a billion more dollars needed to fight fire ants
An audit report of efforts to eradicate highly invasive fire ants has revealed an extra half a billion dollars will be required to complete the task.
Auditor tells Qld to get its biosecurity act together
Queensland needs to improve its biosecurity system and priorities, says a report which identifies delays in responding to widespread fire ant infestation.
Rambo, the fox who outfoxed the hunters, bites the dust
Wildlife officers are celebrating the demise of a fox named Rambo, who outfoxed veteran trackers tasked with hunting him down at a NSW wildlife refuge.
Scientists hatch weevil plan to conquer invasive plant
The CSIRO is hoping a biological control agent will wage a campaign of death and destruction against an invasive plant released in Australia in the 1960s.
Exotic invaders could be rebadged as neo-natives
Australian botanists face a sticky question as invasive species become more entrenched and adapt to the point where they could be considered "new natives".
New funding to fight reef-eating starfish
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation aims to unleash robotics, genetics, DNA, pheromones and natural predators against the crown-of-thorns starfish.
Spiky sea urchin impact comparable to crown-of-thorns
Scientists say problems posed by invasive sea urchins on Australia's southern reefs are comparable to the crown-of-thorns starfish on the Great Barrier Reef.
Feral brumbies rampant in Kosciuszko
NSW authorities have admitted feral brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park are even more abundant despite a plan to reduce wild horse numbers to 3000 by 2027.
Much of NSW declared free of varroa mite
States and territories have agreed to reopen their borders to bees and hives from most of NSW, but remain concerned over patches of invasive varroa mite.
Freezing toads works but beware ‘zombies’
Australians have long hunted cane toads in inventive and not always kind ways. But there's a way to kill humanely and ward off the so-called zombie syndrome.
War of the worlds being waged against weed
A determined and tenacious effort to defeat an imported weed is reaping rewards for native species in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Exotic ant gets flick after three years
An exotic ant that threatens Australian agriculture has been eradicated from the Port of Brisbane by biosecurity authorities, three years after it was detected.
Insect apocalypse looms as world warms
A major new study says there's mounting evidence the world's insect populations are in rapid decline and it's cause for profound concern.
Renewed calls to close border with Indonesia over foot and mouth threat
Livestock transporters have told a senate hearing the border with Indonesia should be closed until foot and mouth is contained, but producers warn against it.
New plant label aims to ward off invaders
A new scheme is being trialled to help backyard gardeners steer clear of plants that could jump the fence and invade native landscapes.
Enviro-friendly spray targets crop killer
An environmentally friendly spray that targets and kills one of the world's most damaging agricultural pests has been created by Australian scientists.
Farmers fear resurgent mouse plague
Farmers are being urged to check paddocks for signs of mice amid reports of increased numbers of the rodents in the wake of extensive damage last year.
Invasive mango pest detected in Top End
An industry-threatening pest known as the mango shoot looper has been detected for the first time in the Northern Territory.
South American fire ants are using floods to spread in Queesland
Authorities are on alert with evidence invasive fire ants formed survival rafts during the Queensland floods potentially allowing them to spread.
Concern invasive pest fish is in Qld creek
An investigation is underway after a possible sighting in a Queensland creek of a fish that's considered a major threat to Australia's biodiversity.
Marsupial creeps back from extinction
A tiny marsupial wiped out by feral pests in NSW is creeping back from localised extinction, with a fresh batch of zoo-bred babies released this week.
Penguins find new ally in French fungus
A fungus that attacks a prolific weed choking beaches across southern Australia could be a powerful new ally for penguins and seabirds.
Booming wild pig numbers create havoc
Wild pig and dog numbers have exploded thanks to prolonged wet weather creating perfect breeding conditions.
Ant invaders wage war on Aussie lizards
Yellow crazy ants can have a devastating effect on native skinks and scientists fear some of Australia's tiniest, most endangered frogs could be next.
Robo-fish is invasive species’ worst nightmare
Researchers hope a robotic fish can help rid Australian waterways of a destructive invasive species by mimicking its natural predator.