A destructive ant species with a huge appetite has successfully been eradicated from one of New Zealand's treasured nature reserves.
The Argentine ant -- largely recognised as one of the most damaging pests in the world -- has been completely cleared from Tiritiri Matangi in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.
The ants are particularly dangerous due to their aggressiveness, ravenous appetite and ability to kill off indigenous bird, lizard and insect species.
No Argentine ants have been spotted on the island for three years, with the Department of Conservation (DOC) now able to say Tiritiri Matangi is free of the species.
Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry says the eradication is particularly notable because it's one of the few places globally where Argentine ant eradications have worked.
An innovative strategy developed by DOC scientist Chris Green was pivotal in the ants' extermination, with other islands and countries now adopting the same method.
"Achieving this goal is a tribute to the hard work and dogged determination of Dr Green and volunteers from the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi," she said.
However Ms Barry warns that people visiting the island must remain vigilant to the threat of invasive species being reintroduced to the sanctuary.
"The risk of reinvasion on Tiritiri Matangi -- or other pest-free islands -- is very real, and visitors need to make sure they comply with DOC's biosecurity guidelines."
DOC has put biosecurity measures in place to reduce the risk of the pests being reintroduced to the island.
Newshub.
