Resin blocks
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Invasive ant reference specimens encapsulated in clear resin provide a useful means of checking newly found ants against known problem species. The resin blocks contain workers and queens of the 5 ants that pose the worst threat to the Pacific - little fire ant, yellow crazy ant, red imported fire ant, Argentine ant and African big-headed ant.
Prototype resin block (© Phil Lester, Pacific Biosecurity). |
The final version of the resin block showing workers and queens of the five worst invasive ant species (© Monica Gruber, Pacific Biosecurity). |
Resin blocks are available to biosecurity officers in the Pacific, and may be available to others who will use them to aid biosecurity activities. Please contact us if you are interested in getting one in for use in identification.
The blocks were manufactured by Scientific Advisory Services (SAS) in Queensland Australia. SAS make similar blocks for a range of fruit fly species.