In Cairns, you either have to have very good records or a photographic memory to spot the greenhouse effect. A number of articles (Giant red cedar) on this site have described how the large forest trees have mostly already died and it is well known that coral bleaching is likely to occur in years without cyclones or strong tradewinds (drought weather). However these changes will not be apparent to most people, particularly newcomers to the north.

Electric Ants are a South Americanant that is very small,occurs in huge number and stings painfully – something likestubbing outburning matches with your skin.  Currentlythey occur only in a single suburb in Cairns, however they could takeovernearly all of Australia.  Asan issue,they will have as much impact on our life as increasing bushfires andthe greatwater shortage. 

Some areas are dozed In other areas, all trees have been poisoned

In an article two weeks ago, it was pointed out that approximately one percent of Australia’s land is responsible for most of Australia’s agricultural production. It is vital that this land be protected.

Mother of Erosion Gullies - near Burdekin River - click on images to enlarge The most offensive message in the book Collapse was that Australia is agriculturally speakin

Pandanusin grassland - click images to enlarge

Currently the Queensland Government is trying to determine the scale of the Electric Ant infestation. Now that the media has widely broadcast information on the ants and the risk that they pose, more reports are coming in from the public. When all of that information is compiled on a map, it will be possible to calculate the cost of an eradication program and funding can be secured.

Electric ants have been present in Cairns for at least 5 years according to credible sources, yet were only officially detected 3 weeks ago. Apparently the ants are also in other parts of Cairns according to some of the people who attended last nights meeting on Electric Ants at James Cook University. It is absolutely crazy a pest that is listed in the world’s top 100 pests can silently invade Cairns without the alarm being raised.

I have found what I think is the source of the picture that was used inthe Australian and Cairns Post newspapers.  It is an interestingnative ant that I have seen on tree trunks in trees lining DaviesCreek, west of Kuranda.  This ant is harmless and I would reallylike to find out why the move the way they do.  The zip forwardsthen stop and zip forwards and stop at very high speed.  It is theone of the most enigmatic methods of getting from point A to point Bthat I have ever seen.  If I did not have to make a living, Iwould try to solve the puzzle of why they move this

Fire ants and electric ants are the greatest environmental pests on the planet. It is vital that we locate and eradicate these pests as soon as they are discovered in Australia. Unfortunately, most of the Pacific nations surrounding Australia have become infested, and the ants have increasing opportunities to invade Australia. The key to preventing these ants from getting a foothold is to report the ants to DPI quickly (Tel 132 523).