Argentine ant invaders at Warehouse

An invasive pest found at The Warehouse has turned up of its own accord rather than hitching a ride in pot plants, management says.
The honey-coloured Argentine ants - among the 100 most invasive species on earth - were found in potted plants last month.
But Nick Tuck, national general manager for merchandise, insists the insects invaded the store independently and did not come in with the plants. The stock was supplied from outside the region.
Mr Tuck said The Warehouse had checked all its supplies and the suppliers of the infested potted plants.
"These infestations are nothing to do with supply," he said.
The alarm was raised by two customers who found the ants in potted plants bought from the Whangarei store last month. Northland Regional Council bio-security officers found a number of infested plants at the store and a much larger infestation at the Dargaville store where 90 per cent of plants were affected and trails of ants were found 20m into the main part of the store.
The plant centre was closed immediately.
No ants were found at the Kaikohe or Waipapa stores, which Mr Tuck says proves the ants had not come in with the plants, because stock from the same supplier was sold in these stores. The Kaitaia store does not sell plants.
Mr Tuck said The Warehouse contracted out its pest control work to nationwide firm Eco-Lab, which carried out regular inspections, and was now working closely with the Northland Regional Council to eradicate the ants.
NRC senior biosecurity manager Don McKenzie said successful control depended on all materials and tools being properly cleaned.
Infestations can be reported on NRC 24-hour hot-line 0800 002 004, or call (09) 4384639. Information sheets are available at the NRC office in Water St, Whangarei, or on-line at nrc.govt.nz