ANT CONTROL SYDNEY

Ants - The Common Household Nuisance

Ants belong to the Family Formicidae within the Order Hymenoptera - a group of insects which also contains bees & wasps. Globally there are 15000 known species, 3000 known in australia.

Commonly, the black ant is found around Sydney; though also the Argentine ant, Bull ant, Carpenter ant, Coastal Brown ant, Odourous ant, Pharaoh ant and Whitefooted ant may also be encountered and are considered pests.

Ants are a common instrusive pest seen across the world, and are therefore very familiar. They are often found around the foundations, walls, kitchens and roof voids inside the property and in gardens, lawns, rockeries and decaying tree material outdoors.

As a collective, ants can be considered one of the most successful groups of insects known to man, and as such getting rid of ants can prove difficult for homeowners.

Ant Anatomy

Ants range in size from about 2mm-4mm and have 3 body segments - the head, thorax and abdomen. Generally the sections of the abdomen connecting to the thorax are smaller, giving ants an appearance of a waist. Ants also have elbowed antennae and a set of compound eyes.Where the ant has wings, the front wings are larger in size than the back ones. These features all differ them from termites.

The digestive system of an ant is geared towards liquids, and so any hard foods which ants discover are taken back to the nest and is treated to make it edible to eat, achieved using saliva, moisture and fungus.

Why Are There Ants In My House?

Worker ants leave the nest to find food to return to the nest. When they do this, they leave behind a trail of pheromones which enables them to find their way back to the nest.

Once it has found food, it will turn around and follow the scent of the pheromone back to the nest, in turn leaving further pheromones on the trail which leave a stronger scent. Further ants pick up this scent and abandon any unsuccessful food searches, following the thick scent to the food and then back to the nest. This is why we see lines of ants marching through our houses.

Ants are opportunists - stray food is an open invitation. Ensure fruit and vegetables are stored away in the fridge. Do not allow food waste or crumbs to gather around doors, crevices, corners or cracks. Any spills around the home must be cleaned up quickly before ants set to work on the sticky mess.

Ant Prevention At Home

Getting rid of ants once you have an infestation can be incredibly difficult, relying on being able to locate and treatment of the nest to be effective. Preventing any kind of infestation in the first place is the best course of action.

• Plug gaps - ensure gaps, cracks and crevices are filled, ants are adept at locating any holes they can use to find food.
• Clean up spills - ensure any spills of food or liquid are cleaned up thoroughly and straight away.
• Sweep & mop - ensure that food debris is removed from floors frequently.
• Store food away - Ensure that fruit and vegetables are stored in the fridge, and that you use airtight containers where possible.
• Take out the trash - Make sure that trash does not accumulate in the kitchen. Take it out frequently to prevent ants from being drawn to the smell.
• Wipe surfaces - Wipe surfaces with vinegar. Ants do not like acidic substances.
• Chalk barriers - Ants tend to avoid chalky substances. Consider deploying barriers with baby powder, baking powder or chalk.
• Keep it dry - Remove moisture from the house, repair leaks and avoid damp, ants are attracted by moisture.
• Pets - Keep pet food bowls clean. Clear up any spilled pet food or water. Keep pet food stored away also.

If you already have an ant infestation contact us immediately to arrange an inspection, so we can determine the best course of action to resolve your ant problem.

Ant Species & Identification

There are many different species of ant you may encounter, with different nesting & feeding habits, some such as the carpenter ant could be harmful to your home.

We've provided you with this handy free ant identification chart which can help you understand any ants which enter your home. Enter your details and submit, and we'll email it to you for free!