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| Ants & Pest Control for Ants |
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Identify the ant pest species and learn about
the safer and effective ant control methods
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Most ant species are highly developed social insects that live in permanent nests, which depending on the species, may be in the soil, in timber, under pavers, in wall cavities or roof voids.
Ants may travel large distances in search of food. Even the cleanest of homes can provide a ready food source for ants which once found can invade in large numbers, such that professional help is required.
Some inflict severe bites but most are a nuisance pest when they infest
kitchens and BBQ areas in large numbers. |
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| Identification & Pest Control Methods |
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Identification of the particular species of ant is vital to implementing a control program.
Some do-it-yourself products may provide short term relief, but may in fact,
make a problem worse. Ants are easily repelled by some common residual
remedies and, without finding the colony, their repeated use can often cause
a colony to move or even split into multiple colonies. And simply killing
foraging ants will not eliminate the colony since the queen remains in the colony
and her sole purpose is to lay more eggs to ensure the survivability of the colony.
Pest Management Professionals (PMP’s) have at their access a variety of
baits, insect growth regulators, and non-repellant materials, which can be used
together in an integrated approach to solving any ant infestation.
Ants are now the number one pest problem for which homeowners rely on professional
advice and remediation. Since an interior infestation is likely to have
resulted from outdoor populations, you should expect your pest management professional
to perform a thorough inspection of the surrounding environment and develop a
strategy to prevent reinfestation of the building. |
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 White-footed
house ant |
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Identification: the worker of the White-footed
house ant is around 2.7mm in length, and black in color with yellow feet.
Biology:
Colonies of white-footed house ants often contain many satellite nesting
sites spread over a wide area. The entire brood may contain several million
workers and numerous reproductive queens. White-footed house ants have
a preference for sweet tasting food, such as sugar, soft drinks and the like.
Nesting sites: their nests are commonly found outdoors, in the ground or
above ground in trees, in buildings, such as, in wall cavities, roof voids,
architraves and fireplaces. They are known to get into and short-circuit
air conditioners. |
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| Odorous
house ant |
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Identification: the Odorous house ant is about
2 to 3 mm in length; of uniform black to brown in color and if crushed,
has a distinct rotten odor, like rancid butter.
Biology: Odorous house ant colonies can contain around 10,000 ants and
contain numerous reproductive females, that can establish subsidiary colonies.
Ants from different colonies are not aggressive toward each other.
Nesting sites: their nests are commonly found include outdoors in the soil,
under the base of trees, and indoors. Nests in the soil are usually shallow,
situated under a stone, pavers or other flat object. They commonly nest
under buildings and inside wall cavities, particularly if there is a regular
moisture source available, say from leaking plumbing, shower recess, broken
guttering and roof tiles. |
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| Pharaoh
ant |
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Identification: The workers are all the same size about 1/16 inch long.
They are yellow or honey-colored. They have 12-segmented antennae with
3-segmented club.
Nesting sites: They build their nests in wall and cabinet voids, behind
baseboards, inside hollow curtain rods and in folds of sheets, clothes
or paper. |
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| Carpenter
ant |
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Identification: Carpenter ants vary in color
from black to dark brown to an brownish orange. The workers are 6 to 12
mm in length.
Biology: Carpenter ants often enter buildings to nest and forage. They excavate their
nests in wood (hence the name "carpenter" ants), creating smooth tunnels
and galleries. The colonies of some species of Carpenter ants, may exceed
100,000 workers, with multiple queens and satellite nesting sites. Most
species are smaller and require many years to reach maturity. They can travel
long distances in search of food.
Nesting sites: they most often build their nests outside, in moist wood,
soil, wigs and branches, but some species will readily infest timbers in
buildings. |
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| Argentine
ant |
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Identification: They are uniformly dull brown colored.
Workers are all the same size, about 1/8-inch long. Thorax uneven in shape
when viewed from side. They emit musty odor when crushed.
Nesting sites: Outdoors in soil, under wood, slabs, debris, mulch or in
cavities of trees and shrubs. Shallow, 1-2 inch deep mounds in open, often
distributed habitats, either moist or dry. |
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| Learn about other common household pests |
| Published by Fumapest Group © copyright 1995
- updated:
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