Stop the Toxic Fire Ant Program
Stop the Toxic Fire Ant Program
The issue
Simon from Save the Bees Australia and Jessie Reimers are calling for an immediate state-wide cease and desist and environmental protection order to end the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, which uses Fipronil, Pyriproxyfen, and s-methoprene to in an attempt to 'eradicate' fire ants (which is impossible) across 800,000 hectares in Queensland, Australia.
The billion-dollar program has lost community support due to concerns about privacy (ignoring trespassing laws, threatening 16k fines and using police force to poison people's land without consent), environmental impact, and harm to non-target species like indigenous bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, as well as harm to native wildlife, aquatic organisms, plants, livestock, pets and human health.
If these poisons are toxic enough to kill dogs, what's it doing to our kids and babies who are out playing in the grass??
A new study just dropped showing the toxic consequences of this program https://aditum.org/journals/agricultural-research-pesticides-and-biofertilizers/article-in-press/1533
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
The Australian Government are dropping wildly toxic chemicals from helicopters, straight into creeks and waterways, on people's land and even over conservation sites and national parks where there are no fire ants found, they've openly admitted this ON CAMERA. As well as poisoning with boots on the ground.
THE FACTS
They've already had to stop poisoning organic farms as they are using GMO corn and soy grit, which is completely illegal, there is a class action underway for the damage they've done to these properties.
They claim that these poisons are "safe and effective".
They say on their website that the treatment is safe for humans, pets and wildlife.
In Europe they use the precautionary principle. If there’s any doubt. Prove it’s safe. Here they just douse the whole place in wildly toxic poisons without a care in the world for the consequences.
And when presented with evidence of harm, it is ignored. Dogs dead. toxicology reports from vets to prove they’ve been poisoned. Countless beehives dead and gone, killing our crucial pollinators. Horses, cattle, chickens, sheep. Sick and dying. Yet they are PRIORITISING poisoning childcare centres, schools and sporting fields.
Let’s look at the FACTS here. The poisons OWN safety data sheet OPENLY ADMIT that these chemicals should-
AVOID RELEASE TO THE ENVIRONMENT- they’re literally covering the environment in them.
That they’re harmful to aquatic life, with long lasting effects
No data available on bioaccumulation
No data available for mobility in soil
DO NOT APPLY AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE FOR FIRE ANT CONTROL (literally EXACTLY what they’re doing across South East Queensland).
Do not apply before rain or within 8 meters of a creek or waterway (they do this constantly, even dropping directly into creeks and not only right before but DURING rain).
To date, there are NO published environmental impact studies.
CEASE AND DESIST LETTER SENT TO GOVERNMENT- WITH ZERO REPLY TO DATE
On 12 August 2025 I (Jessie Reimers) wrote to the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Biosecurity Queensland), stating that-
I am formally directing, under my rights as an affected Queensland resident, that all chemical fire ant baiting across the State of Queensland cease immediately. This demand arises from your agency’s ongoing actions which constitute serious breaches of Queensland, Commonwealth, and international environmental and chemical use laws, and which present an immediate and ongoing risk to human health, animal welfare, and the environment.
Your department is:
Dropping chemical bait from the air directly into conservation areas, wetlands, and waterways, contrary to environmental protections and label conditions.
Explicitly ignoring the product label restrictions, including:
Do not apply within 5–10 metres of waterways or creeks.
Do not apply when heavy rain is forecast.
Prophylactic use is not recommended.
Engaging in broadscale prophylactic chemical application without site confirmation of infestations, in breach of best-practice pest control standards and APVMA guidance.
Known Harms and Evidence
The active ingredients in these baits are documented to be highly toxic to aquatic organisms, native fauna, domestic pets, livestock, and humans, with risks including:
Contamination of waterways leading to fish and amphibian death.
Illness and death in domestic animals and livestock.
Documented human health impacts including skin irritation, respiratory distress, and potential long-term endocrine disruption.
Scientific literature and APVMA chemical assessments confirm the high acute and chronic toxicity of these substances to non-target species.
Relevant Legislative Breaches
Your current fire ant chemical baiting program appears to be in breach of multiple laws, including but not limited to:
State Legislation
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) – s. 319 (General environmental duty), s. 320 (Duty to notify of environmental harm), s. 437 (Wilful environmental harm), s. 438 (Serious environmental harm), s. 440ZG (Depositing a harmful substance in waters).
Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld) – s. 23 (General biosecurity obligation), s. 24 (Failure to prevent biosecurity risk), s. 25 (Failure to minimise biosecurity risk).
Chemical Usage (Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Act 1988 (Qld) – s. 9 (Use contrary to approved label).
Commonwealth Legislation
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) – s. 18 & s. 20 (Significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, including wetlands of international importance).
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cth) – Part 4, Division 2 (Offences for use contrary to label instructions).
My Demands
I hereby demand that you:
Cease all chemical fire ant baiting immediately across Queensland — aerial and ground-based.
Suspend the use of toxic bait formulations containing active ingredients known to be hazardous to aquatic life, pets, livestock, wildlife, and humans.
Adopt non-chemical eradication methods, in particular direct hot water injection into confirmed nests only, which is targeted, effective, and environmentally responsible.
Conduct an independent, transparent review of the environmental and health impacts of the fire ant eradication program to date.
TO DATE I HAVE RECEIVED NOT ONE RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT
We are raising concerns specifically about several chemicals being used:
S-Methoprene is a synthetic insect growth regulator (IGR) used in various products, including pesticides, insecticides, and mosquito control agents. While it can effectively control insect populations, S-Methoprene has raised concerns due to its potential environmental and health impacts. Here are some reasons why S-Methoprene is considered "bad":
1. _Environmental persistence_: S-Methoprene can persist in the environment for extended periods, potentially contaminating soil, water, and air.
2. _Toxicity to non-target species_: S-Methoprene can harm or kill non-target insects, such as bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
3. _Impact on aquatic life_: S-Methoprene has been shown to be toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish and crustaceans.
4. _Endocrine disruption_: Some research suggests that S-Methoprene may act as an endocrine disruptor, potentially affecting hormone systems in animals and humans.
5. _Human health concerns_: Exposure to S-Methoprene has been linked to health issues, including skin irritation, respiratory problems, and potential reproductive and developmental effects.
6. _Development of resistance_: Overuse of S-Methoprene can lead to the development of pesticide-resistant insect populations, reducing its effectiveness.
7. _Contamination of food and water_: S-Methoprene residues have been detected in food and water sources, raising concerns about human exposure.
Fipronil
A “wildly toxic” chemical used to combat fire ants and the varroa mite in Australia is banned in Europe and harmful to humans – and it is poisoning waterways and killing native fauna, experts warn.
Fipronil acts as an insect nerve agent and is banned for use on crops in the EU, China, Vietnam and California because of its effect on pollinators. The insecticide was used in sugar baits across New South Wales in the now abandoned fight against the invasive varroa mite and has been injected into 35,539 fire ant nests in south-east Queensland and northern NSW since January 2023 as part of the national red imported fire ant eradication program.
Pyriproxyfen
From: Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Viability and Increase of Intracellular Lipids in HepG2 Cell Line; Lamberti et al, Occup Med Health Aff 2014, 2:5
This study suggests that pyriproxyfen is strongly cytotoxic to human hepatocytes (liver cells). This concurs with the toxicity label for the chemical which lists the general human health issues as possible liver toxicant, possible blood toxicant and endocrine issues – estrogenic effect.
From: Ultimate fate and toxicological consequences of insecticide pyriproxyfen and its metabolites in soil ecosystem; Kumari et al; 2021; https://doi.org/10.10166/j.envadv.2021.100040
Pyriproxyfen can degrade into approximately 10 metabolytes. Of six studied, their residues persisted for more than 30 days in soil with half lives varying from 2.6 to 30 days. Metabolites C, E and F caused toxicity to soil enzymes. Considering the persistence behaviour and toxicological consequences of metabolites, further investigations are needed for preventing their harmful effect on non-target organisms and associated environment.
From: The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony in field; Chen et al, 2016, Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology
A study by Chen et al (2016) indicate that pyriproxyfen has negative impacts on both larval and adult honey bees and royal jelly production, especially under high pyriproxyfen concentrations.
Many more studies at https://stopthetoxicfireantprogram.org/resources/
Yes. Fire ants are a problem. THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION!
There are ACTUAL safe and effective alternatives that are being ignored by this Government.
Blanket poisoning is not the way forward. You are not just targeting a pest, you are indiscriminately harming the ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM. You're not just treating ants. You are treating everything, with NO understanding of the actual consequences for your actions.
You cannot continue to claim that this is "safe" whilst completely ignoring the lived and very real effects on communities and the natural world.
As outlined in the letter https://stopthetoxicfireantprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Alternative-RIFA-management-in-AUS-JR-King.pdf from Dr. Joshua King (which has been sent to our Government, and ignored by our Government, —one of the world’s leading entomologists and a foremost expert on fire ants in the United States—this Government is ignoring critical scientific advice. Dr. King makes it clear that prophylactic poisoning is NOT recommended.
Our strongest natural defence against fire ants is the presence of our native ant species, yet these broadscale poisons are destroying them (and everything else). Furthermore, the direct hot water injection method, proven through Southern Cross University research to be both highly effective and extremely safe, is being disregarded in favour of outdated, harmful poisons.
Until we move away from chemical warfare thinking, we'll keep destroying what we aim to protect.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP?
Let's make this Government a GLOBAL embarrassment. It will be people power that stops this. Share our content on social media to your stories, like and comment, help us get this viral. Share the petition far and wide. Write to the government (you can use the letter above).
Jessie Reimers https://www.instagram.com/jessie_reimers/
Simon from Save the Bees https://www.instagram.com/savethebeesaustralia/?hl=en
I have faith that together we can make change and put a stop to this, but it will take all of us standing together, united against this.
We deeply appreciate you.
Thank you for your care.
Simon and Jessie
19,301
The issue
Simon from Save the Bees Australia and Jessie Reimers are calling for an immediate state-wide cease and desist and environmental protection order to end the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, which uses Fipronil, Pyriproxyfen, and s-methoprene to in an attempt to 'eradicate' fire ants (which is impossible) across 800,000 hectares in Queensland, Australia.
The billion-dollar program has lost community support due to concerns about privacy (ignoring trespassing laws, threatening 16k fines and using police force to poison people's land without consent), environmental impact, and harm to non-target species like indigenous bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, as well as harm to native wildlife, aquatic organisms, plants, livestock, pets and human health.
If these poisons are toxic enough to kill dogs, what's it doing to our kids and babies who are out playing in the grass??
A new study just dropped showing the toxic consequences of this program https://aditum.org/journals/agricultural-research-pesticides-and-biofertilizers/article-in-press/1533
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
The Australian Government are dropping wildly toxic chemicals from helicopters, straight into creeks and waterways, on people's land and even over conservation sites and national parks where there are no fire ants found, they've openly admitted this ON CAMERA. As well as poisoning with boots on the ground.
THE FACTS
They've already had to stop poisoning organic farms as they are using GMO corn and soy grit, which is completely illegal, there is a class action underway for the damage they've done to these properties.
They claim that these poisons are "safe and effective".
They say on their website that the treatment is safe for humans, pets and wildlife.
In Europe they use the precautionary principle. If there’s any doubt. Prove it’s safe. Here they just douse the whole place in wildly toxic poisons without a care in the world for the consequences.
And when presented with evidence of harm, it is ignored. Dogs dead. toxicology reports from vets to prove they’ve been poisoned. Countless beehives dead and gone, killing our crucial pollinators. Horses, cattle, chickens, sheep. Sick and dying. Yet they are PRIORITISING poisoning childcare centres, schools and sporting fields.
Let’s look at the FACTS here. The poisons OWN safety data sheet OPENLY ADMIT that these chemicals should-
AVOID RELEASE TO THE ENVIRONMENT- they’re literally covering the environment in them.
That they’re harmful to aquatic life, with long lasting effects
No data available on bioaccumulation
No data available for mobility in soil
DO NOT APPLY AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE FOR FIRE ANT CONTROL (literally EXACTLY what they’re doing across South East Queensland).
Do not apply before rain or within 8 meters of a creek or waterway (they do this constantly, even dropping directly into creeks and not only right before but DURING rain).
To date, there are NO published environmental impact studies.
CEASE AND DESIST LETTER SENT TO GOVERNMENT- WITH ZERO REPLY TO DATE
On 12 August 2025 I (Jessie Reimers) wrote to the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Biosecurity Queensland), stating that-
I am formally directing, under my rights as an affected Queensland resident, that all chemical fire ant baiting across the State of Queensland cease immediately. This demand arises from your agency’s ongoing actions which constitute serious breaches of Queensland, Commonwealth, and international environmental and chemical use laws, and which present an immediate and ongoing risk to human health, animal welfare, and the environment.
Your department is:
Dropping chemical bait from the air directly into conservation areas, wetlands, and waterways, contrary to environmental protections and label conditions.
Explicitly ignoring the product label restrictions, including:
Do not apply within 5–10 metres of waterways or creeks.
Do not apply when heavy rain is forecast.
Prophylactic use is not recommended.
Engaging in broadscale prophylactic chemical application without site confirmation of infestations, in breach of best-practice pest control standards and APVMA guidance.
Known Harms and Evidence
The active ingredients in these baits are documented to be highly toxic to aquatic organisms, native fauna, domestic pets, livestock, and humans, with risks including:
Contamination of waterways leading to fish and amphibian death.
Illness and death in domestic animals and livestock.
Documented human health impacts including skin irritation, respiratory distress, and potential long-term endocrine disruption.
Scientific literature and APVMA chemical assessments confirm the high acute and chronic toxicity of these substances to non-target species.
Relevant Legislative Breaches
Your current fire ant chemical baiting program appears to be in breach of multiple laws, including but not limited to:
State Legislation
Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) – s. 319 (General environmental duty), s. 320 (Duty to notify of environmental harm), s. 437 (Wilful environmental harm), s. 438 (Serious environmental harm), s. 440ZG (Depositing a harmful substance in waters).
Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld) – s. 23 (General biosecurity obligation), s. 24 (Failure to prevent biosecurity risk), s. 25 (Failure to minimise biosecurity risk).
Chemical Usage (Agricultural and Veterinary) Control Act 1988 (Qld) – s. 9 (Use contrary to approved label).
Commonwealth Legislation
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) – s. 18 & s. 20 (Significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, including wetlands of international importance).
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cth) – Part 4, Division 2 (Offences for use contrary to label instructions).
My Demands
I hereby demand that you:
Cease all chemical fire ant baiting immediately across Queensland — aerial and ground-based.
Suspend the use of toxic bait formulations containing active ingredients known to be hazardous to aquatic life, pets, livestock, wildlife, and humans.
Adopt non-chemical eradication methods, in particular direct hot water injection into confirmed nests only, which is targeted, effective, and environmentally responsible.
Conduct an independent, transparent review of the environmental and health impacts of the fire ant eradication program to date.
TO DATE I HAVE RECEIVED NOT ONE RESPONSE FROM THE GOVERNMENT
We are raising concerns specifically about several chemicals being used:
S-Methoprene is a synthetic insect growth regulator (IGR) used in various products, including pesticides, insecticides, and mosquito control agents. While it can effectively control insect populations, S-Methoprene has raised concerns due to its potential environmental and health impacts. Here are some reasons why S-Methoprene is considered "bad":
1. _Environmental persistence_: S-Methoprene can persist in the environment for extended periods, potentially contaminating soil, water, and air.
2. _Toxicity to non-target species_: S-Methoprene can harm or kill non-target insects, such as bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
3. _Impact on aquatic life_: S-Methoprene has been shown to be toxic to aquatic organisms, including fish and crustaceans.
4. _Endocrine disruption_: Some research suggests that S-Methoprene may act as an endocrine disruptor, potentially affecting hormone systems in animals and humans.
5. _Human health concerns_: Exposure to S-Methoprene has been linked to health issues, including skin irritation, respiratory problems, and potential reproductive and developmental effects.
6. _Development of resistance_: Overuse of S-Methoprene can lead to the development of pesticide-resistant insect populations, reducing its effectiveness.
7. _Contamination of food and water_: S-Methoprene residues have been detected in food and water sources, raising concerns about human exposure.
Fipronil
A “wildly toxic” chemical used to combat fire ants and the varroa mite in Australia is banned in Europe and harmful to humans – and it is poisoning waterways and killing native fauna, experts warn.
Fipronil acts as an insect nerve agent and is banned for use on crops in the EU, China, Vietnam and California because of its effect on pollinators. The insecticide was used in sugar baits across New South Wales in the now abandoned fight against the invasive varroa mite and has been injected into 35,539 fire ant nests in south-east Queensland and northern NSW since January 2023 as part of the national red imported fire ant eradication program.
Pyriproxyfen
From: Effects of Pyriproxyfen on Viability and Increase of Intracellular Lipids in HepG2 Cell Line; Lamberti et al, Occup Med Health Aff 2014, 2:5
This study suggests that pyriproxyfen is strongly cytotoxic to human hepatocytes (liver cells). This concurs with the toxicity label for the chemical which lists the general human health issues as possible liver toxicant, possible blood toxicant and endocrine issues – estrogenic effect.
From: Ultimate fate and toxicological consequences of insecticide pyriproxyfen and its metabolites in soil ecosystem; Kumari et al; 2021; https://doi.org/10.10166/j.envadv.2021.100040
Pyriproxyfen can degrade into approximately 10 metabolytes. Of six studied, their residues persisted for more than 30 days in soil with half lives varying from 2.6 to 30 days. Metabolites C, E and F caused toxicity to soil enzymes. Considering the persistence behaviour and toxicological consequences of metabolites, further investigations are needed for preventing their harmful effect on non-target organisms and associated environment.
From: The impact of pyriproxyfen on the development of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony in field; Chen et al, 2016, Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology
A study by Chen et al (2016) indicate that pyriproxyfen has negative impacts on both larval and adult honey bees and royal jelly production, especially under high pyriproxyfen concentrations.
Many more studies at https://stopthetoxicfireantprogram.org/resources/
Yes. Fire ants are a problem. THIS IS NOT THE SOLUTION!
There are ACTUAL safe and effective alternatives that are being ignored by this Government.
Blanket poisoning is not the way forward. You are not just targeting a pest, you are indiscriminately harming the ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM. You're not just treating ants. You are treating everything, with NO understanding of the actual consequences for your actions.
You cannot continue to claim that this is "safe" whilst completely ignoring the lived and very real effects on communities and the natural world.
As outlined in the letter https://stopthetoxicfireantprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Alternative-RIFA-management-in-AUS-JR-King.pdf from Dr. Joshua King (which has been sent to our Government, and ignored by our Government, —one of the world’s leading entomologists and a foremost expert on fire ants in the United States—this Government is ignoring critical scientific advice. Dr. King makes it clear that prophylactic poisoning is NOT recommended.
Our strongest natural defence against fire ants is the presence of our native ant species, yet these broadscale poisons are destroying them (and everything else). Furthermore, the direct hot water injection method, proven through Southern Cross University research to be both highly effective and extremely safe, is being disregarded in favour of outdated, harmful poisons.
Until we move away from chemical warfare thinking, we'll keep destroying what we aim to protect.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP?
Let's make this Government a GLOBAL embarrassment. It will be people power that stops this. Share our content on social media to your stories, like and comment, help us get this viral. Share the petition far and wide. Write to the government (you can use the letter above).
Jessie Reimers https://www.instagram.com/jessie_reimers/
Simon from Save the Bees https://www.instagram.com/savethebeesaustralia/?hl=en
I have faith that together we can make change and put a stop to this, but it will take all of us standing together, united against this.
We deeply appreciate you.
Thank you for your care.
Simon and Jessie
19,301
The Decision Makers
Supporter voices
Petition created on 19 March 2024