A new colony of imported fire ants has been eradicated shortly after its discovery east of Hamilton’s commercial docks.

The colony was among several recently found on the island, one of which was in the same area, and have all been treated.

The discovery has pushed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to more than double its treatment radius.

Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, encouraged the public to alert authorities whenever the invasive ants are spotted.

He said: “Protecting Bermuda from fire ants requires early action and public co-operation is equally important.

“Our team is continuing to find and treat colonies to prevent these ants from becoming established across the island.

“I encourage residents, businesses and landscapers to report any suspected sightings promptly.

“By letting us know what you have seen and where, you can help protect our communities and natural environment.”

Red imported fire ants, also known by their scientific name Solenopsis invicta, are native to South America but are a common invasive species in North America, Australia, China and Taiwan.

Fire ants can be aggressive and deliver painful stings that last for days, which makes them a risk to people and animals, including pets, livestock and wildlife.

The insects are even known to cause problems for electrical and telecommunications infrastructure.

Fire ants were first detected last November after three mounds were located in Hamilton Parish. Another colony was later spotted at Hamilton’s docks in January.

They have since sparked rigorous inspection, with the DENR and the senior biodiversity officer checking more than 1,000 sites across the island.

Checks focused on places where fire ants were likely to spread, such as plant nurseries, landscaping businesses and areas for container handling.

DENR, with the help of Bermuda Pest Control, treat impacted areas with specialised fire ant bait.

The latest discovery forced the department to expand its treatment radius from 200 metres of detection sites to 500 metres.

A ministry spokeswoman said inspections and follow-up checks continued to locate and eradicate any further colonies.

Residents were urged to look out for suspected fire ants, known for their dark reddish-brown colour, and their mound-shaped nests, which can emerge in lawns, landscaped areas and around paved surfaces.

Fire ants can be easily confused with big-headed ants, which are about the same size but have much larger heads, and trap-jaw ants, which have similar colours but much larger mandibles — jaws.

Their nests tend to be in open and sunny areas and typically look like loose soil when first developed, but can grow to about 18 inches in diameter.

More information on fire ants, including their identification and control options, can be found on the Government’s website.

If spotted, do not touch the ants or disturb their nests. Instead, take photographs if safe to do so, record the location and report the sighting to fireants@gov.bm.