Ants

Ants can be a hazard to your property AND your health.

It is possible to be somewhat blase towards the presence of an ant or two in the kitchen or other areas of the home or business. But do not under-estimate the power of an ant. There is always a rather large colony to back him up! In Australia, there are about 3,000 known species of ants, most of which are known as omnivorous scavengers. It is these species, that exploit food made available by humans, that have achieved pest status. Commonly referred to as a 'nuisance' pest, many people are unaware of the potential for disease transmission that is associated with ants. This is particularly alarming considering ants are most often found in food storage and food preparation areas.

The Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) is a relatively new, but serious, pest to Australia which looks very much like an ordinary house or garden ant but can be distinguished by its aggressive behaviour. If the nest is disturbed, fire ants tend to fly out very aggressively to protect the nest. Their nests can appear as dome-shaped mounds up to 40cm high, usually found in open areas such as lawns, along roadsides and unused cropland.

The Fire Ant has a savage bite that leaves a circular pattern on the skin and can kill people who suffer allergic reactions to its venom. In Australia,people have been stung by the ants but no deaths have been reported. Fire ants are a notifiable pest,which means infestations must be reported to the Department of Primary Industries. Queensland Call Centre: 13 25 23

The Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile) can be found in locations that provide suitable moisture and darkness for their needs, nesting in exposed soil, rotting wood, treeholes, garbage heaps and even beehives. They are usually found in lower elevations of the home. Most often encountered during the summer, this species prefers sweet foods but will eat meats, insects, seeds, fruit and honeydew from sap suckers like aphids. It may also cause damage to soiled clothing. This is an aggressive species that drives other ants from the area, disrupting the local ecology. Their tendency to promote the proliferation of sap suckers like aphids can result in serious damage to crops.	The Pavement Ant (Tetramorium caespitum) is 2-3mm long, brown/ black in colour with pale legs and a black abdomen. It feeds on a variety of materials, including live and dead insects, meat and honeydew from aphids, usually attacking animal foods, food fats and seeds in an outdoor environment. This species often enters houses for food and may become numerous in a short period of time in a kitchen or outside on a patio. They typically make their nests under stones, concrete slabs, and at the edge of pavements, but in houses they can occupy crevices in woodwork and masonry. The nests are often difficult to locate, so control is usually aimed at individual ants or a group of ants.
Carpenter Ants * (Camponotus spp.) are important in the balance of nature because they burrow and nest in dead trees and enhance existing wood decay. They achieve pest status when a colony invades a house or other wooden structure, damaging the integrity of the wood. Carpenter ants are generally jet black, but there may be some variants that are reddish or brown in colour. They are among the largest of ants, ranging from 5-13mm.	The light brown Pharaoh's Ant (Monomorium pharaonis) can establish small to large nests indoors and are common throughout the year. They forage both during the day and night, feeding on a variety foods but prefering meat and food fats. Colony numbers are usually in the hundreds but have been known to consist of thousands of workers and queens. They are often located in many sites throughout an infested structure. Therefore, spraying is not always recommended as a treatment for these ants because, in some cases, it can fragment the colony and worsen the problem.

* Photograph courtesy of Phillip Hadlington - long recognised as one of Australia's foremost pest control experts.

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General Information

Ants are social insects that live in colonies that may include as many as 500,000 individuals. Outside - nests are commonly found: in exposed soil under the cover of logs in plant cavities in decayed or moist wood around paths or rockeries behind or in retaining walls in crevices in brickwork Inside - ants are likely to be found: behind skirtings and architraves in wall voids beneath floors around foundations under stoves or cupboards When ants find food, they lay down an invisible chemical trail, called a pherenome, so that other ants can find their way from the nest to the food source. These 'trails' of ants can prove to be very persistent. This is particularly true in extended periods of wet weather. Ants can feed on almost anything consumed by humans. Simply killing the ants you see still leaves this scent trail for the others in the nest to follow. That could mean another 500,000 or so ready to continue the search !!

• Outdoor Areas

Ants are a particular problem outdoors when: They infest lawns - because of the mounds they build in making their nests. The mounds of soil smother and kill grass plants. Underground, ant tunnels may cause roots to dry out, killing the grass. They infest paved areas, removing the sand between pavers and making the area unstable and unsightly. They protect insects that damage plants, such as aphids, scales and mealybugs from attack by their natural enemies and then carry these pests to un-infested plants. Pay particular attention to ants in the following areas: Garbage Bins Planters, Pots and Garden Beds Paved Areas Lawns

Health Issues

Ant infestations may pose a health risk. Ants can mechanically carry disease organisms on their body. Ever considered ants capable of spreading dysentry, smallpox and bacteria like salmonella? It's not surprising when you think about where ants scavenge for food.

Ant Control Strategies

The most effective way to control ant infestations is to use both chemical and non-chemical techniques. There are a number of simple measures that can be employed to reduce the attraction ants have to your home or business.

• Reduce Attraction

Stored foods that are attractive to ants should be kept in tightly sealed containers. Floor, cupboard and pantry areas should be kept free of crumbs. Transfer wastes from the preparation and cleanup of food to a garbage bin. Store garbage bins in dry places (not under sinks), empty them often and keep them clean Correct moisture problems Correct ventilation problems

• Reduce Access

Seal possible entry spots, such as small gaps around doors and windows, along skirting boards, cracks in walls, and gaps around plumbing fixtures Inspect plants or equipment for ants before bringing indoors

We guarantee SPM sytems and methods and back them up with appropriate free service periods.

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