Ants are the most common pest call in Australian homes. The line you see marching across the bench is a small part of a much larger colony, usually nested somewhere you cannot see. Dealing with the trail is easy. Dealing with the colony is the job.
What to look for
Signs you have them
- Lines of ants along benches, skirting boards, window sills and door frames.
- Ants gathering around pet food bowls, the sugar jar, the bin or a sticky spill.
- Small piles of fine soil or sand between pavers, along paths or at the base of walls.
- Ants coming out of power points, cracks in walls or gaps around windows.
- Nests in pot plants, lawns and garden beds.
- Winged ants indoors, often around windows, in warm and humid weather.
Usual hiding spots
Where they hide
- In the ground under pavers, paths, driveways and lawns.
- In garden beds, pot plants and under rocks or timber.
- Inside wall cavities, roof voids and subfloors.
- Around kitchens and bathrooms, wherever there is food or water.
- Along fences, pipes and cables, which they use as highways into the house.
The honest version
Why it matters
Ants walk over everything on their way to your pantry, so they can contaminate food.
Some Australian ants bite or sting, and it hurts. For a small number of people a sting can cause a serious allergic reaction.
Nests under pavers and paths can undermine them over time, and ants nesting in walls sometimes gather around wiring and power points.
A colony keeps sending new workers. Removing the ones you see changes nothing back at the nest.
Before we get there
What to do, and what not to
Do this now
- Wipe up spills and crumbs straight away, especially anything sweet or greasy.
- Keep food in sealed containers and rinse recycling before it goes in the bin.
- Pick up pet food when your pet has finished eating.
- Watch where the trail comes from and where it goes. That information is gold to us.
- Trim branches and plants that touch the house. They are bridges.
Do not do this
- Do not disturb a nest in the garden with bare hands or feet. Some ants defend it hard.
- Do not assume that getting rid of the trail gets rid of the colony.
- Do not ignore winged insects indoors. They may be ants, or they may be termites, and the difference matters.
Our part
How we deal with it
Every home is different, so the detail comes with the quote. This is how a job like yours usually runs.
Identify
There are many ant species in Sydney and they behave differently. We work out which one you have first.
Inspect
We follow the trails to find where they are getting in and, where possible, where they are nesting.
Treat
We treat the trails, entry points and nesting areas so the colony is dealt with, not just the workers.
Advise
We tell you what to do before and after, and what around the home is attracting them.
Asked a lot
Ants: common questions
Something else on your mind? Put it in the quote form and we will answer it when we reply.
Why do ants suddenly appear in my kitchen?
Usually the weather. Heavy rain floods nests and pushes ants indoors, and hot dry spells send them looking for water. A scout finds food, lays a scent trail, and the rest follow.
How do I tell flying ants from termites?
Look at the body. An ant has a narrow, pinched waist and bent antennae. A termite has a thick waist and straight antennae, and its four wings are all the same length. If you are not sure, send us a photo. It is worth knowing.
Are ants dangerous?
Most household ants are a nuisance rather than a danger. Some species bite or sting, which is painful, and a small number of people have serious allergic reactions. If someone has trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat after a sting, call 000.
Why do they keep coming back after I deal with them?
Because the nest is still there. The ants you see are workers. The queen and the rest of the colony are somewhere else, and they simply send more.
The rest of the line-up
Other pests
Got ants?
Better call Saulo. Send the details and a photo of what you are seeing and we will come back with a quote.