Ants In Australia

Of the estimated 4-5,000 species of ants in Australia very few are troublesome, and these are mostly “vagrant” or “tramp” species that have been accidentally introduced from overseas.

The tramp species (the Red Imported Fire Ant, Singapore Ant, Coastal Brown Ant, Argentine Ant, White-footed House Ant, Pharaoh’s Ant, and Black House Ant) infest buildings in search of water and food and will take all kinds of domestic foods, ranging from oils and butter to sweet substances, meats and grain-based items like bread and biscuits.

Most of them are capable of nesting indoors in wall spaces, ceilings and wall insulation, crevices in furniture, etc. Most also tend sap-sucking bugs like aphids and scale insects on plants. The protected bugs produce sweet secretions attractive to the ants and can be vectors of plant bacterial, fungal and viral diseases.

When dense populations of ants nest in the ground they can induce damage to soil structure, causing crops to fall over, and they can undermine the foundations of paths and small buildings. Several species are attracted to plastics and cause damage to irrigation and electrical installations.

Ant Problems and Dangers

Several house fires in northern Australia are believed to have been caused by short-circuiting resulting from ant damage. Some “tramp” species have painful stings, while others bite and then spread or spray venom from the tip of the abdomen, so as to irritate the bite wound.

Several native ant species are also injurious to human enterprise. Most prominent are the Australian Bulldog and Jumper Ants. There are many known cases of severe human allergic reactions (even death) due to their stings. Other troublesome native ants include some of the Meat Ants and the Green Weaver Ant.

Today you can stop worrying about ants and how to get rid of them.  Effective treatments are available to eliminate any existing ant infestations and to protect our homes against future invasions.

Professional Ant Solutions

Products available to consumers through retail outlets use repellent control – i.e. they work by creating a chemical barrier around your home that keeps ants away, but doesn’t control the nest.  Over a short time, ants find breaks in the sprayed areas that let them invade your home.  And since ants don’t get a lethal dose of the repellent treatment, the ant colony isn’t eliminated. It is a proven fact that by spraying standard DIY products, the user can unwittingly worsen the ant problem by segmenting the colony, resulting in many smaller colonies springing up.

When it comes to protecting your home from ants, you cannot rely on standard products from your local hardware or DIY remedies.

You cannot rely on someone other than an experienced ant control professional.  Ant control is a site-specific process that requires:

• experience and training to complete a full assessment of a site for all its ant activity prior to treatment;
• knowledge of ant behaviour, nesting, foraging and habitats;
• specialised knowledge, equipment and tools to treat your home appropriately; and
• specialised products that only licensed ant control professionals are authorised to use.

Of all the pests the modern professional pest manager faces, ants are at the top of the list of ‘most difficult’ to control due to their complex social habits and invasiveness.

This is why successful control can only be achieved by seeking the professional services of a qualified pest manager using ant-specific products.

DIY Ant Tips

Inside your home:

– Keep stored produce in air-tight containers.
– Clean pet food bowls after feeding animals.
– Clean up food scraps and crumbs.
– Clean up liquid drink spills.
– Seal cracks and crevices in bathrooms to prevent access to moisture sources.
– Clean dishes and don’t leave them overnight.
– Clean up bread crumbs left on countertops and in toasters.

Outside your home:

– Trim back trees and plants that create paths for ants.
– Keep large masses of debris and waste to a minimum.
– Keep gutters and drains free of a build-up of debris.
– Seal garbage inside plastic waste bags when put in dustbins.
– Turn compost over regularly to deter ant nest building.