Ant invasion closes popular Kiwi campground

An ant infestation forced the closure of the DoC-run Rarawa Beach campsite for three weeks. Photo: Supplied.

A popular Kiwi campsite was closed for three weeks after an ant infestation.

Holiday makers were turned away from the the Department of Conservation's (DoC) Rarawa site in the Far North after a large colony of highly-invasive Argentine ants moved in.

The infestation spurred into action the world's only Argentine ant-sniffing dog, Rhys Jones, who made the trip up from Auckland to ensure the invaders hadn't spread to other camping spots.

According to DoC, Argentine ants are one of the world's most problematic ant varieties, competing with native species for food, displacing or killing native invertebrates and eliminating other ant species.

They can be very aggressive and although not poisonous, they can still give you a nasty nip. Unlike other ant species, Argentine ant colonies cooperate with one another and can combine into "super-colonies".

A DoC spokesman said bait was laid over the ants' colony at Rarawa and the camp was closed down for three weeks while it took effect.

It reopened last week.

"The camp has again opened and it's already full of campers for the Christmas period," the spokesman said.

Auckland Council Hauraki Gulf biosecurity adviser Brian Shields said when campers moved to other camp grounds, the ants often hitchhiked in their trash, which they were required to take with them at Far North sites.

Shields took his old mate Rhys Jones Up North to ensure the rest of the region's campsites were ant-free.

"We went around and surveyed the rest of the sites in the area and Rhys gave them the all clear," he said.

Rhys Jones, a Welsh springer spaniel, has been trained to identify the signature scent of the Argentine ant, and his nose is so sensitive it can ignore native ants and hone in on the invader species.

"He's a cool dog and he loves getting out there and doing his work," Shields said.
Despite Rhys and Shields' tireless efforts, the number of Argentine ant colonies continues to rise.

"We're doing a good job keeping them out of the Hauraki Gulf islands, and DoC are doing a really good job stopping the spread as well, but people have got to be very, very aware because they can spread so easily.

"They love things like potting mix so if you take your pot plant up to your batch you can easily transport them that way, because you basically only need a queen and a few workers to start a nest."