Turf ticked off as being treated for fire ants has proven to be a Trojan horse for one of the worst invasive species to reach Australian shores.
A global super pest that has settled into southeast Queensland has been accidentally imported into NSW, marking its first known incursion in almost a year.
Officials are now inquiring whether turf was falsely signed off as being treated for fire ants before crossing the border on Wednesday.
The ants were found shortly after the turf was laid at a private property west of Byron Bay, the NSW government confirmed on Thursday.