Drones eradicating invasive Argentine Ants on Norfolk Island

The Argentine Ant is an invasive species controls its environment in two interesting ways. The first is its application of agricultural farming, yes farming. One of its ingenious methods is herding aphids. Its a mutually beneficial relationship. The aphids receive protection, while they feast on plant life and in turn the ants thrive on the honey-dew, produced by the ants. The other is to remove all competitive threats to the ant colony – and it is very effective at doing this.

The CSIRO eradication control program at Norfolk islands has been underway for a number of years. An extension of the program has introduced the use of drones to deliver a lethal chemical mix in controlled deliver over vast areas. The drone is the largest non-military drone in Australia. Over 1m in length, designed to look like a helicopter. The drone flies about 30cm above crops and can follow landscape contours across difficult to reach or inaccessible areas, to release a low dose pesticide. The pesticide dosage is undetectable to individual ants and it taken back to the hive to feed the queen. Over a short period, the queen ingests sufficient quantities to be lethal and the colony dies, along with the queen.

For more information see the Science Show program.