Aussies have been told to be on high alert for fire ants amid fears ex-Cyclone Alfred may have helped the invasive species and ‘super pest’ spread through Queensland. 

After arriving in Australia in the 1990s, the ants have been confined to southeast Queensland, from the Sunshine Coast, down to Tweeds Heads and Toowoomba. 

Now, the Invasive Species Council said thousands of fire ants have been spotted forming rafts in order to survive and travel on floodwaters. 

The council’s advocacy manager Reece Pianta told Daily Mail Australia the behaviour had sparked fears the pests were invading new areas. 

‘The [fire ant distribution] maps exactly onto the cyclone zone and some of those areas have high fire ant densities,’ he said.

‘After a disaster event people are moving things like soil and mulch around when doing the reconstruction work and that can help move fire ants in.

‘If you see fire ants you need to report them and get the government supplied treatment to destroy those colonies. They usually form a mound.’

Mr Pianta said fire ants, which are native to South America, have killed humans in the United States and can also harm pets as they form ‘super colonies’.

Fire ants (pictured) have killed humans in America and are causing problems in Queensland 

Thousands of fire ants have been spotted forming rafts and travelling on floodwaters (pictured)

It’s estimated that fire ants cost Australia’s economy $2billion per year. 

They can damage electrical and agricultural equipment, sting people, pets and livestock, kill native plants and animals, and damage ecosystems beyond repair.

If the pests get out of control they could cut agricultural output by up to 40 per cent.

‘It’s a problem in southeast Queensland right now but if they get out of control it will be a problem for the whole country,’ Mr Pianta said.

‘I think about what happens if they get a foothold in a river system like the Murray-Darling. They would quickly spread though New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and at that point we wouldn’t be able eradicate them and it would impact our agricultural forever and cost $2billion a year to the economy.’

The Invasive Species Council is calling on the Queensland government to ramp up fire ant suppression.

‘We call on Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese to commit to an urgent fire ant surge and long-term funding,’ Mr Pianta said.

‘An increase in funding now could save Australia billions in fire ant costs each year, not to mention the immeasurable cost to our environment, wildlife and lifestyles.

It’s estimated that fire ants cost Australia’s economy $2billion per year (mounds are pictured)

 ‘Fire ants are dangerous. Don’t put yourself, clothing or belongings in direct contact with ants or their nests.’

Queenslander Kirsty McKenna, who has spotted the fire ant rafting near her home, said it was essential residents received more support to reduce their numbers.

‘I’m actively controlling them on my property but the whole community needs to join in and support eradication,’ she said.

‘There’s lots of turf farms and hay operations near me and if they get in there I also worry they will spread to other parts of the country.’