Ants Control

Dealing with Ants in your Home

It can be annoying to find ants in your home, and many ants, including the common pavement ant can be difficult to control. Considering that ants frequently travel through unsanitary areas before they end up on your countertops, you should take steps to keep them away from your family, pets and food. (Carpenter Ants – which are wood damaging – are covered under a separate section).

Types of Ant Problems

Some ant species live in colonies that are supported by a single queen while others are supported by multiple queens. Although there are thousands of different ant species, there are relatively few that we commonly see as pests. These include:

Black House Ant - Black House Ants are only 2.5-3mm long. These ants are regarded as a nuisance and scavenge in kitchens, garbage and also dog excrement, therefore potentially spreading diseases such as salmonella. 'Common Ants' include the intensely black 'Black House Ants', which are attracted to sweets and the light yellowish brown 'Coastal Brown Ant', which prefers to feed on meat products and grease. The most effective control measure is to find the colony and treat it.

Pharoah Ant – worker ants are 1/16” long and the Queen is 1/8 - 1/4 long. Both workers and the Queen are a yellow-brown color. Pharoah Ants originate from the tropics and require artificial heat in order to survive and reproduce and tend to live in large heated buildings such as hospitals, hotels and apartments. The pharoah ant is one of the most difficult ant species to control.

Bulldog Ant - About 18 - 20mm long the Bulldog Ant typically nests outdoors in soil and under logs and rocks. Located mostly in bushy areas and rarely enters buildings. A Bulldog Ant sting can inflict a very painful sting.

How to Ant-Proof Your Home

Most ants come inside your home looking for food. They are attracted by sweet and sticky substances. Ant proof you home by making food unavailable:

• Always cover food – who knows where that ant has been before it crawls across your food!
• Clean food and liquid spills immediately
• Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances
• Make sure all garbage cans are tightly sealed
• Keep compost piles enclosed and covered
• Put away pet food as soon as your pet has finished eating

You can also help prevent Ants entering your home by sealing access points such as cracks and crevices in door and window frames.

How to get rid of Ants

While a wide range of do-it-yourself products are available for ants, many times effective control requires a professional pest control service to gain control and prevent recurrence.

Although, many homeowners struggle with do it yourself ant control remedies the results are often less than satisfactory. Small problems can develop into large ones and this is when many people seek out the services of a pest control professional.

Adelaide Pest Control technicians are skilled, experienced professionals – they are state certified, licensed applicators and are required to participate in regular training programs to maintain their expertise. They understand the habits of each species and use that knowledge when developing a control program for your home. They also have respect for you, your home, your family and your time.

At Adelaide Pest Control, we pride ourselves on a fast and effective ant elimination service. Our in depth knowledge of local pests and their environment means that we are always one step ahead of the local ant species invading your home.

If you would like further advice or to arrange an inspection call us on 1300 697 290 or click here to contact us now! That’s where Adelaide Pest Control can help you by eliminating your ant problems!