‘Massive surveillance failure’:Fire ant infestation sparks fear of undetected spread

‘Massive surveillance failure’:Fire ant infestation sparks fear of undetected spread

More than 100 nests of potentially deadly fire ants have been discovered on Defence land in the Murray Darling river system.

  • byMike Foley

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Rock snot to spiky crawling fish:Pests threatening to reshape Australia

Rock snot to spiky crawling fish:Pests threatening to reshape Australia

The wood-boring beetle wreaking havoc on Perth’s grand Moreton Bay figs is just one of many invasive species keeping experts up at night.

  • byNick O'Malley
‘Just diabolical’:European wasp plague devastates crops

‘Just diabolical’:European wasp plague devastates crops

Unseasonably warm and wet conditions in Victoria have led to an infestation of wasps that is wiping out some vineyards,beehives and orchards.

  • byBianca Hall
‘Hairy poo’ unmasked as nation’s newest creepy-crawly

‘Hairy poo’ unmasked as nation’s newest creepy-crawly

A Queensland camper has made a momentous scientific discovery after taking a closer look at what looked like white,hairy faeces.

  • byTracey Ferrier
A missed chance to eradicate fire ants could cost Australia $38 billion

A missed chance to eradicate fire ants could cost Australia $38 billion

A national outbreak of the pest from its Queensland stronghold would sting the economy – and that’s without even considering the health costs.

  • byMike Foley
Brain worms,dark matter and stranger things. We explain
Series
Science

Brain worms,dark matter and stranger things. We explain

We put the natural world under a microscope,from rogue waves and zombie fungus to colliding atoms and meteors.

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The Noahs have it
Opinion
Column 8

The Noahs have it

Flies get one over their ark rivals.

Fire ant threat requires whole-of-government response,inquiry hears

Fire ant threat requires whole-of-government response,inquiry hears

Helen Scott-Orr,a former federal inspector-general of biosecurity,warns the threat posed by the invasive pest goes far beyond agriculture.

  • byMike Foley
Private education knows how to make an entrance
Opinion
Column 8

Private education knows how to make an entrance

But no apple for these teachers.

Insecticide cops a spray
Opinion
Column 8

Insecticide cops a spray

Youngblood Priest delivers the last rites.

Why we don’t need to be worried by Melbourne’s swarms of black crickets

Why we don’t need to be worried by Melbourne’s swarms of black crickets

They’re in people’s clothes,covering train stations and even at the airport to greet Swifties – but the insect invasion won’t last.

  • byBhavya Vemulapalli