Resin blocks

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.

Resin block

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 have been made available to biosecurity officers in the Pacific. We no longer have any left.  

The blocks were manufactured by Scientific Advisory Services (SAS) in Queensland Australia. However, they no longer have a website.

June 2024 update: If you want to have some blocks made, you might like to try Bugs and Beads, who make customised resin blocks and are also based in Queensland. We have heard they can provide a number of different options. Thanks to Casey Morris for letting us know this.