Fire Ants in Sydney’s Inner West

Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta)

Fire ants are an invasive species that spreads incredibly quickly and poses serious threats to agriculture, the environment, and personal safety.

InnerWest Pest Control’s guide to Fire Ants:

Do not destroy, treat, or move the nest. Fire ants are prohibited matter in NSW, and strict biosecurity controls apply to anyone handling or moving them. Avoid disturbing fire ants to prevent injury and further spread.

Safely take a clear photo or video for identification, from a distance, without touching or disturbing the nest.

Call us immediately at 0491 497 378. We can identify the ants for you and, if they are fire ants, advise on treatment and safety measures. We will also report the sighting to the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) on your behalf.

Health and Safety

Sydney’s Inner West is currently under a biosecurity alert for fire ants, following the detection of a nest at the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre in September 2026. The nest was treated, and as of 13 October 2026, NSW authorities report that no other nests have been found. Because fire ants can breed and spread quickly, surveillance is continuing in the surrounding area, so it’s still important to stay vigilant and contact us if you suspect a sighting.

These insects should not be approached or moved. Fire ant stings cause an intense burning sensation and can develop into painful, fluid-filled blisters within 2 to 48 hours. In rare cases, stings can trigger a serious anaphylactic reaction, so seek urgent medical attention (call 000) if you or anyone stung experiences swelling of the face, eyes or throat, chest pain, difficulty breathing, nausea or fainting. Fire ants can also seriously harm pets and small animals, so please keep a close eye on your pets in affected areas too.

Treatment

Our technicians have completed verified government training courses in fire ant identification and response, and are equipped to act quickly on any suspected or confirmed sighting.

To help protect the community, we will be conducting fire ant inspections at properties within the current response zone whenever we’re on-site for General Pest or routine inspection services.

We’re updating our coverage as new detections are reported, so we stay current with which suburbs fall within the response zone.

NSW authorities are currently inspecting properties within a 500-metre radius of the Enfield site, with surveillance expanding to a wider 2-kilometre area of surrounding suburbs in the coming weeks. Residents within this zone should be especially vigilant, but all Inner West residents are encouraged to keep an eye out.

Map showing the fire ant response zone around the Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre in Sydney’s Inner West

Identification

Fire ants are small, 2-6mm long, coppery brown in colour with a darker abdomen. Unlike most ant species, a single nest contains ants of noticeably different sizes.

They’re more often identified by their nests than by individual ants: mounds or patches of loose, disturbed soil with no obvious entry or exit holes, unlike most other ants’ nests.

Fire ants thrive in humid, sunny regions.

If you suspect a nest, never touch it. Call us immediately at 0491 497 378.

Early Fire Ant Nest Development

Large Nest in a Garden

Nest Close to Home

Close-up on a Fire Ant