As Brisbane heads into spring, we start spending more time outdoors, getting back into the garden, and making the most of the warmer weather. It’s also a good time to start paying closer attention to what’s happening around your property.
Fire ant activity can become more noticeable during the warmer months, particularly around lawns, garden beds and other outdoor areas. For Brisbane homeowners, spring is an important time to check for signs of fire ants and make sure any suspected activity is dealt with appropriately.
We regularly hear from homeowners who have noticed unusual ant activity but aren’t sure whether they are dealing with fire ants or a more common species. In many cases, the first signs are easy to overlook, such as a small mound in the lawn, ants moving across the garden, or unexpected stings after walking through an outdoor area.
In this guide, we’ll explain what to look for during spring, where you’re most likely to find fire ants around your property, and what you should do if you suspect an infestation.
Why Check for Fire Ants in Spring?
Spring is a good time to inspect your property because warmer weather means people are spending more time outside. Lawns, gardens, playgrounds and outdoor entertaining areas all get more use, which also means there are more opportunities to notice unusual ant activity.
It’s worth checking areas that may have been overlooked during winter, particularly if you’ve recently completed landscaping or brought new soil, turf or mulch onto your property.
Take a walk around your yard and look at:
- Lawns and grassed areas
- Garden beds
- Areas around fences and retaining walls
- Paths, driveways and paved areas
- Areas where soil has recently been disturbed
- Newly landscaped areas
- Areas where children or pets regularly play
Fire ants can be difficult to identify because they can look similar to other ants found around Brisbane. If you’re unsure what you’re seeing, our guide on how to identify fire ants in Brisbane covers their appearance, behaviour and common nest signs.
What Does Fire Ant Activity Look Like?
One of the first things homeowners notice is increased ant activity around the lawn or garden.
Fire ants are generally reddish-brown and can vary in size within the same colony. They can also become highly aggressive when their nest is disturbed.
Unlike many common ants, fire ants may swarm quickly when a nest is disturbed. They can climb onto shoes, clothing, outdoor furniture, toys and other objects near the ground.
This is one reason it’s important not to poke, kick or dig into a suspicious mound to see what is underneath.
Other signs to look for include:
- Reddish-brown ants of different sizes
- Large numbers of ants moving across lawns or garden areas
- Ants behaving aggressively when disturbed
- Dome-shaped or loose soil mounds
- Mounds without an obvious entrance hole
- Unexplained stings after walking through grass
Not every mound or aggressive ant is a fire ant, so correct identification is important before deciding what to do next.
Check Your Lawn and Garden After Rain
Brisbane’s spring weather can bring periods of rain, so it’s worth keeping an eye on your lawn and garden after wet weather.
Rain can change the appearance of the soil and make previously overlooked mounds easier to spot. You may also notice increased ant activity in areas that have been disturbed by water or landscaping.
If you notice a suspicious mound, don’t disturb it. Take a photograph from a safe distance if possible and make a note of where you found it.
Our guide on fire ant nest removal and what homeowners should never do explains why disturbing or attempting to remove a suspected nest yourself can make the situation worse.
Be Careful With Soil, Mulch and New Turf
Spring is also a popular time for gardening and landscaping projects.
If you’ve recently brought soil, mulch or turf onto your property, it’s worth checking where those materials came from and whether they have been sourced from an area affected by fire ants.
Fire ants can be accidentally transported in soil and landscaping materials. Soil movement is also one of the ways colonies can spread from one property to another.
This is particularly important for homeowners who are:
- Installing new turf
- Adding garden soil
- Bringing in mulch
- Building retaining walls
- Excavating part of their property
- Completing major landscaping work
You can learn more about the common ways fire ants spread in our guide to how fire ants spread and how they can enter properties.
If you’re unsure about the current requirements that apply to your property, check the latest Queensland fire ant biosecurity information before moving potentially restricted materials.
Keep an Eye on Areas Used by Children and Pets
Spring also means more time outside for children and pets.
If your children play on the lawn or your dog spends a lot of time in the backyard, make sure you’re regularly checking the areas they use.
Fire ants can be particularly difficult to notice before a nest is disturbed. A child walking across a lawn or a dog digging in the garden may accidentally disturb a nest and trigger a swarm.
Look carefully around:
- Play areas
- Lawns
- Sandpits
- Garden beds
- Areas where pets dig
- Outdoor furniture
- Fences and garden edging
If you have pets, our guide on whether fire ants are dangerous to pets explains the risks and what to look for if your pet has been stung.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Fire Ants?
If you think you’ve found fire ants, the first thing to do is avoid disturbing the area.
Don’t kick the mound, dig into the soil or deliberately provoke the ants.
Instead:
Keep people and pets away
Make sure children and pets don’t approach the suspected nest.
Take photographs if it’s safe
Photos of the ants and the surrounding area can be useful when trying to identify what you’re dealing with. Don’t get close enough to put yourself at risk.
Don’t move soil or landscaping materials
Avoid moving soil, mulch, turf, plants or other materials from the affected area.
Report suspected fire ants
Fire ants are a regulated pest in Queensland, so suspected sightings should be reported through the appropriate Queensland government channels.
If you’re unsure about the reporting process, our guide on how to report fire ants in Brisbane explains what to look for and what information you may need to provide.
Get professional advice
If you have confirmed or suspected fire ants on your property, professional assistance can help you determine the appropriate next steps.
Should You Treat Fire Ants Yourself?
It’s understandable that homeowners want to deal with an ant problem as soon as they find it. However, fire ants aren’t a pest you should experiment with.
A visible mound doesn’t necessarily represent the full extent of the colony. Fire ants can establish underground, and disturbing a nest can cause the ants to become aggressive or contribute to the spread of the colony.
Common DIY methods such as digging into a nest, pouring boiling water over it or applying random household chemicals can also create unnecessary risks.
More importantly, not every ant nest is a fire ant nest. Treating the wrong species can waste time and may prevent you from taking the appropriate action if fire ants are actually present.
If you’re unsure, it’s better to have the ants correctly identified first.
Does Spring Mean Fire Ants Need to Be Treated?
Spring is an important period for fire ant monitoring and management, but there isn’t one treatment approach that applies to every property.
The appropriate response depends on where the property is located, whether fire ants have been confirmed, the extent of the infestation and the biosecurity requirements that apply to the area.
This is particularly important because fire ant management areas and requirements can change.
If you’re unsure whether your property is affected, our article on 2026 fire ant biosecurity updates in Brisbane explains some of the changes homeowners should be aware of.
Spring Is a Good Time to Check Your Property
You don’t need to wait until someone gets stung before checking for fire ants.
A quick inspection of your yard can help you spot unusual activity early, particularly if you’ve recently landscaped, moved soil or installed new turf.
Make checking your lawn and garden part of your regular outdoor maintenance. Pay attention to new soil mounds, unusual concentrations of ants and areas where people or pets regularly spend time.
If you find something that doesn’t look right, don’t disturb it. Keep children and pets away and get the situation checked.
Need Help With Fire Ants in Brisbane?
Fire ants aren’t just another backyard ant. They can pose a risk to people and pets, damage outdoor areas and contribute to the wider spread of an invasive species.
At The Fire Ant Guys, we specialise in fire ant identification, inspections and treatment across Brisbane and South East Queensland.
Our team can inspect your property, identify suspected fire ant activity and recommend the appropriate treatment and management approach.
If you’ve noticed suspicious ants or a new mound in your yard this spring, don’t wait until someone gets stung. Contact The Fire Ant Guys for professional fire ant control in Brisbane and find out what steps you should take next.