Ant FAQs

About 15,000 ant species and subspecies exist worldwide, with Australia home to just over 1,300. Ants are found in all Australian States and Territories and in all terrestrial habitats. For more information on familiar species in Australia, refer to our Common Ant Species page.

Ant colonies can range in size from a dozen or so to many thousands.

Ants vary in size. They can be as little as 2.5-3mm (Black House Ant) or as big as 20mm (Bulldog Ant) See our Common Ants Species page for more information.

Yes, some ants can give painful stings (i.e. bulldog ant) and contaminate food (i.e. garden ant). Unlike bees, ants can sting multiple times.

To learn about ant infestation signs, refer to our page on Common signs of ants.

Yes, there are a few tips you can try to get rid of ants. However, professional pest control is usually required for effective ant control. For more information, visit our how to get rid of ants page.

Most ants enter your home in search for food. They are attracted to sweet and sticky substances, so it is important you clean up any food or liquid spillages straight away and cover food in storage areas. In addition, you should seal potential access points such as cracks and crevices to prevent ants from entering your home. For more details, refer to our how to get rid of ants page.