A German man who tried to smuggle native ants and plants out of Australia has been fined $3000.

Gerhard Kalytta, 65, pleaded guilty to attempted illegal export charges when he appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court .

The court heard that on September 7, Kalytta attempted to smuggle more than 3000 ants along with plants and plant material out of Perth International Airport.

Customs officers searching his luggage found 153 plastic packages containing the ants and plants.

Curtin University experts determined the ants were of more than 50 different species including bulldog and greenhead ants whose stings can cause allergic reactions, which in some cases can prove lethal.