PROCEDURES FOR YELLOW CRAZY ANT MANAGEMENT – PULU KEELING NATIONAL PARK
Biosecurity checks: threat preventionBefore leaving for PKNP
· All equipment should be prepared and packed in a clean room, free of contaminants.
· Use dedicated clothing (including shoes) and if possible equipment used only for trips to PKNP, which is washed separately and stored in a black barrel or a garbage bag between trips.
· Where possible avoid taking equipment that has been used on islands with outbreaks of Siam weed, including Horsburgh, West and Home Islands.
· Where possible avoid taking equipment that has been used on Christmas Island. If you must, clean, isolate and quarantine equipment for a set period of time.
· Ensure all fruit or vegetables from Christmas Island have been checked for ants and scale insects.
· Wash, clean and thoroughly inspect ALL field equipment carefully before packing into clean waterproof bags/containers.
· Pack all equipment into black barrels, seal the barrels and do not open them in an area where they could be recontaminated before the trip.
· Put any backpacks or loose equipment into a strong, large garbage bag to avoid recontamination.
· Take the minimum amount of items necessary to do your work.
· Store food in plastic or aluminium sealable containers.
· Avoid using cardboard boxes or plastic bags to transport items. If you must, use a black strong garbage bag.
· Take and complete “Ranger/supervisor – final biosecurity checklist for visits to PKNP”.
· If possible, vessels should be stored away from known infestations.
· When vessels are not in use, clean thoroughly and ensure no food, rubbish or freshwater remains when vessel is stored.
Before boarding the vessel on the southern atoll
· Transport all prepacked equipment directly from the preparation room to the boat—don’t leave items in an area where they could be contaminated.
· The loading area should be clean, tidy and well lit to reduce risk of invasive species boarding during loading.
· Make sure the captain and crew are familiar with all relevant biosecurity procedures and check with the captain that the vessel has been inspected adequately for invasive species.
During transit to PKNP
· If you find rodents, don’t throw them into the ocean close to the island as they may be able to swim to shore—instead humanely dispatch them and search for additional rodents:
Ø if in doubt as to the presence of rodents, do not attempt to land.
· If you find other invasive species (eg weed seeds, scale insects) double bag them, safely store them and ensure they are not taken on island.
Unloading at PKNP
· Check the launch vessel for rodents and only take the equipment needed for the trip to the swimming point.
· Whilst loading onto the launch vessel, check gear for signs of rodent damage that may have occurred during the journey (rub marks, footprints, scats, burrows, feeding).
· Check that ALL equipment, clothing and shoes are clean and have no seeds on them (If you find any seeds don’t throw them into the ocean close to the island—instead store them in a sealed container before disposing of them appropriately).
Leaving PKNP
· Store all rubbish in a bag and bring it with you—this includes fruit and other vegetative waste.
6
Surveillance program[1]During each visit
· On arriving at PKNP carry out a search of the landing area and the 2012 SIEV landing sites as per PKNP Invasive Species Detection Survey.
· Undertake ongoing monitoring of areas known to support high numbers of yellow crazy ants (YCA)[2].
· Record any opportunistic sightings of scale insects (CUS). Collect samples for identification.
Annual inspections
· Undertake a survey at a selected number of IWS points to assess YCA activity.
Supercolonies can be recognised by:
· high YCA abundance on the ground and as ‘tree traffic’ on trees
· large numbers of ant nests, typically at the base of trees and in logs
· ant-infested crab burrows and dead crabs
· relatively low diversity of other invertebrates, particularly other ants.
Locating supercolonies[3]. Conduct YCA counts by:
· Carefully sweep loose material from a small patch of ground with your foot every 5 m along a 50 m tape measure deployed on a predefined direction. This can be found in the IWS map book.
· Place the ant card on the cleared ground and wait 15 seconds (timed with a Gym Boss) to let the disturbance die down. See Addendum A for instructions on Gym Boss use.
· For 30 seconds, count the number of ants that enter the quadrate where YCAs first appear. Maximum 100.
· NOTE: An ant that repeatedly enters then exits the card surface can be recorded multiple times as the method assesses activity not density.
· Categorise each waypoint as: (i) ants absent; (ii) ants in low density; or (iii) potential supercolony.
· Make a note in the comments if your count occurs near a nest.
· Record “Y” under “YCA present?” if there are ants in transect even if they are not in the counts.
· Examine the trees for tree-traffic and classify it as nil, low, medium or high based on the number of trees covered and the number of ants per tree.
· Make an estimation of the possible presence of a super colony at the waypoint (Y or N) that may not be represented in the ant count data.
Locating scale insect (CUS):
· Whilst conducting the transect also check for the presence of CUS. Mark their presence as either Y or N.
· Search for evidence of CUS/YCA interactions at each YCA transect point.
· In transit, collect samples of any scale insects and/or parasitoid wasps found.
· Take a photograph and record the camera and photograph number on the data sheet.
· Make sure that all relevant boxes on the data sheet are filled in before leaving the site.
Mapping supercolony boundaries on PKNP
· Clear track and waypoints at the start of each day (DO NOT delete if they have not been downloaded).
· Navigate to the waypoint and locate the edge of the supercolony based on: (i) ants absent; (ii) ants in low density; or (iii) potential supercolony.
· Spread out with 5–20 m between each person (A,B,C noted below) and walk the entire length of the boundary doing the following:
Ø Person A
Walk ‘inside’ the supercolony, search for and confirm the presence of the supercolony.
Ø Person B
Walk ‘outside’ the supercolony, search for and confirm the absence of the supercolony.
Ø Person A and B
Keep Person C accurately positioned on the boundary.
Stay in radio communication with person C at all times.
Ø Person C
Walk between Person A and B. Communicate on radio with person A and B.
Turn on your tracks on the GPS to “Record, show on map”.
Mark a waypoint coordinate every 10–30 m (If you make a mistake, delete the waypoints back to the correct waypoint).
Carry a hip-chain stringline that leaves a biodegradable cotton marker along the supercolony boundary.
Marks the boundary with pink flagging tape every 10-15 m.
Turn your tracks on the GPS to “Do not record”. Save your GPS tracks.
NB: Upon return to the office or on a laptop download the point and track data from each GPS.
Incursion response: control program[4]
One to two days before baiting– robber crab stations
Bagging chicken pellets and belacan:
Chicken pellets: Pack 1 kg of chicken feed pellets into zip-lock bags. Measurements closest to with no scales needed. 1x 1 kg bag = 1 station.
Shrimp powder/paste (‘belacan’): Take along blocks of belacan paste to rub on the rocks and trees. Shrimp and Boy brand is preferred by 9 out of 10 robber crabs. A block should be sufficient for 10 sites.
IMPORTANT: Keep the chicken feed separate from anything that had touched ant bait.
Setting crab food lure stations:
· The location of crab food lure stations will be in your GPS. They occur at 50 m intervals in a 50 m buffer from the ends of the transect lines.
· Navigate on your GPS to the first crab food lure station waypoint.
· Deliver 1–2kg* piles of chicken pellets to the pre-determined coordinates. Throw the pellets covering as large an area as possible.
· More food can be used in areas with lots of hermit crabs.
· Rub belacan onto the surrounding trees and rocks.
· Mark the site with toilet paper to assist with relocation on baiting day.
· Repeat steps at all lure stations.
IMPORTANT: Do not get the chook food and ant bait mixed up. Do not use the same gloves. Do not mix up the plastic bags used for ant bait and chicken pellets. Reuse the bags for the same purpose. Once bags are used, keep them separate so you can calculate how much you have used.
*If after review, 1–2 kg of chicken pellets are consumed by hermit crabs before baiting occurs more chicken pellets should be distributed to effectively lure the crabs to the stations for a sufficient period of time.
Whilst preparing ant bait
Baits brands/poison:
Antoff® Fipronil Ant Bait (0.01g/kg)
Supplied by: Animal Control Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd / Safety:
· Do not handle baits unless you have been trained in safe handling and use.
· All Personal Protective Equipment as identified in the Standard Operating Procedure when handling baits. An additional equipment list is at the end of this document.
· Always follow manufacturer’s instructions and the Material Safety Data Sheet (have English and Malay translations at site).
· If the MSDS or label is missing do not use the bait.
Ant baiting transects and spacing:
· Using the maps created in ArcGIS (use CI methods) determine the area of the colony, its size and how many baiting transects.
· Bait rate à 4kg/ha. Bag up adequate amounts of bait accordingly.
Bagging ant bait (Fipronil):
· Measure bags of bait using a scale, bags of bait must equal EXACTLY 1 kg.
· DO NOT SPILL ANY BAIT. If you have a spill try to clean it up using gloves.
· Use the 20 kg buckets to store 1 kg bags of Fipronil.
Whilst baiting ants on PKNP
Baiting:
· Bait rate à 4kg/ha. Calculate how many bags each person needs to carry in their backpack.
· Baiting should only occur in supercolonies.
· Baiting should not be conducted within 10–20m of:
Ø the seashore
Ø freshwater.
Kitting up for ant baiting:
· Team usually consists of four or more people.
· Line your backpack with a medium sized plastic bag and put in extra 1 kg zip-lock bags of bait.
· Put the waiters apron up around your waist. Fill up hip buckets with bait.
· Take your GPS, radio, compass and tablespoon.
On-site:
· Assign each team member with a role.
· Navigate to the previously mapped supercolony.
· One person walks ahead of the team, finds robber crabs, bags them in a sack, and moves the crabs out of the supercolony to lure stations.
IMPORTANT: Do not use gloves or any equipment that has been used for ant baiting. Have a special pair of gloves for the robber finder. Write “Robber” in permanent marker on the gloves.
· Baiting occurs in transects. Assign each person an individual transect.
· When you reach the start of your transect, use the GPS to find the waypoint at the end of your transect and navigate to it.
· Turn on your tracks on the GPS to “Record, show on map”.
· Line up along the supercolony boundary, with one person every 10 m.
· Two of the team members will be on the ends of the line. They will use the GPS to stay on their transect line.
· The others will line up and keep 10 m spacing between the people next to them and those on the ends of the line (see example below).
· It is important you keep this spacing the entire time.
| | | | |
Person end -----10 m----- Person A ----10 m----- Person B -----10 m----- Person C ----- 10 m----- Person end
| | | | |
· Use the compass to ensure you stay on the bearing. If the GPS does not have enough satellites, the compass and the people at the end of the line are your best guides.
· Walk across the supercolony, dispersing bait from your hip buckets as you go:
Ø throw a teaspoon of bait to the left
Ø take 3 steps and throw a teaspoon of bait to the right
Ø take another 3 steps, throw a teaspoon of bait behind you
Ø repeat.
· Adjust the throw rate according to step size (determined by terrain and your height/stride), such that you throw a teaspoon of bait every 2–3 m.
· Upon reaching the end of your transect the whole team moves to the next block of transects on the GPS. Stay in the same order.
· This process is repeated until the entire supercolony is baited and all transects finished.
· Turn your tracks on the GPS to “Do not record”. Save your GPS tracks.
· Record the following on datasheet:
Ø person/s, date, time, bearings (lat/long), weather conditions
Ø bait station number (site visited)
Ø mark the baited areas on the map
Ø the amount of bait used, per site, at the end of each day and the total used for each trip.
Equipment required (additional to Personal Protective Equipment)
Kits should be stored on West Island for immediate availability
Surveillance:
Locating supercolonies and CUS:
· tape measure
· ant card (at least 2)
· Gym Boss timers
· small zip lock bags
· camera
Boundary mapping:
· GPS
· compass
· hip-chain stringline
· flagging tape
During all activities:
· maps of PKNP with lat/long gridlines and marked transit points
· datasheets
· radio / Control:
Ant bait bagging:
· Fipronil (at least 2x 20 kg)
· laminated copies of Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
· strong zip lock plastic bags (big enough to contain 1 kg of bait)
· electronic scales and extra batteries
· spill kit-dustpan
· medium-sized garbage bags
Crab station bagging:
· Chicken feed pellets (1x kg per station)
· Belacan (1x 1 kg jar = 10 stations)
· strong zip lock plastic bags (big enough to contain 1 kg of feed) / Crab food lures:
· GPS
· chicken pellets and belacan
· Toilet paper
Ant baiting kits (1 per person):
· tablespoon measure with handle
· waiters apron
· compass
· GPS
· Alvey bait containers with waist strap (same model as used on CI—see image).
Review/debrief process (post trip)
· As per PKNP Communication Plan—notify the emergency contact officer that you have returned, ensure all staff are safe and accounted for, any noteworthy incidents reported.
· Address any issues/problems with the process.
· Enter any data collected.
· Service and clean equipment if required and return all equipment to secure hygienic location
· Restock/replace bait and other stores if necessary.
· Document activity—what was achieved, when, by whom, resources used, any biosecurity breaches.
Addendum A