Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera. (Closely related to bees and wasps).
Introduction
Ants are one of the most relentless and robust insects known to man and of all the insects that infest buildings, ants are the most common. They flourish in most environments and constantly invade our homes, indirectly competing with us for our food and shelter satisfying their quest to feed and expand the colony.
These disease carrying insects scavenge for rotting food in garbage bins, over dog excrement, pet food bowls and through animal carcasses before tracking bacteria into our homes over benchtops and onto our food.
Their colonies range in size from a few hundred individuals living outside in the garden to highly organised armies living within the walls of your home numbering into the millions.
The discovery of a solitary ant inside your home is usually a warning of larger things to come. Nearby colonies constantly send out scouts to locate new food sources, soon others will follow guided by an invisible pheromone trail laid down by the scouts that acts as a directional guide for a mass invasion.
There are over 4000 thousand known ant species in Australia alone all of which have the capability to bite, causing allergic reactions in both children and adults, and in some cases... death. Small numbers sighted in kitchens and food storage areas can and will increase rapidly so it's important to have ants removed from these areas as quickly as possible.
These pests cause the following problems:
Painful bites and stings causing allergic reactions and illness to humans and pets.
The contamination and spoilage of millions of tonnes of food each year.
The spread of diseases such as Salmonella.
They are the cause of electrical problems and fires.
Ants travel in large numbers causing daily disruption to businesses and loss of amenity.
Treatment details, warranty & cost
Our Ant treatments include a complete internal spray of all affected areas and depending on the species of ant we may apply non-aerosol gel baits where required. If you opt for an external treatment, we will thoroughly spray the exterior of the building surface, covering window & doorframes, garage, pathways, all outdoor fixtures and fittings and garden areas. Where is access is available we will also dust the subfloor areas.
TYPE OF STRUCTURE
COST Internal Treatment Only
COST Internal & External Treatment Spray
Average 1-2 bedroom unit/apartment
from $240 + gst
from $260 + gst
Average 3 bedroom house/townhouse
from $260 + gst
from $300 + gst
Large 4 + bedroom house
from $380 + gst
from $420 + gst
*PLEASE NOTE: The price list table above is based on ‘SIGHT UNSEEN’ and reflects the cost to treat an average home, however there may be factors that are unknown to us that might affect how much it will cost to eradicate Ants from your home. Treatment cost largely depends on the size and the extent of the affected areas as well as the intensity of infestation. The ease of accessibility for inspection and treatment purposes may also be a factor in cost determination. Our warranty period may be positively or negatively affected depending on the surrounding environmental circumstances, the level of housekeeping procedures and the assessed risk of possible re-infestation. Also, please note, these prices are solely for domestic properties only.
WARRANTY
Depending on environmental factors, our service carries a 3-6-month warranty from date of service. The ease of accessibility for inspection and treatment purposes may also be a factor in cost determination. Guarantee periods may be positively or negatively affected depending on the surrounding environmental circumstances, the level of housekeeping procedures and the assessed risk of possible re-infestation.
PREPARATION
In order to carry out a treatment efficiently we will require you/tenant to be present on the day of treatment where at this stage you/tenant would have cleared all areas that require spraying/treatment i.e. removal all of kitchen utensils, pots & pans, crockery, food items from benches, tea towels, bathroom towels, toothbrushes, soaps etc.
All toys to be covered or removed and stored away. Also, all pet food bowls and pets to be removed from the premises for a minimum 4 hours. Once our technician has confirmed that all these items have been cleared, you/tenant will be required to leave during the treatment process. We require you/tenant to leave the property unattended for a minimum of 4 hours, this allows our spray treatments to dry and set.
After this time, you may re-enter, and we recommend opening windows and doors to allow ventilation. If areas are still damp, we recommend you turn on heating and/or fans to expedite the drying of our treatment.
If the weather is inclement (rain forecast) on the day of treatment, we will reschedule the external spray for a more suitable day
The effective treatment of ants depends on a number of factors:
The type of species.
The degree and location of the infestation.
The accessibility and location of the nesting sites.
How established the infestation has become.
You can rest easy knowing that all of our treatments are 100% completely safe for your family and pets and are the most environmentally friendly methods around.
When we attend, we will survey your property to determine the intensity and the spread of the Ant infestation, after which time we will proceed with a suitable treatment program that is suited to your specific issue. It is essential that all potential sources and all areas of reinfestation are not overlooked during the inspection or treatment phase of our work, and this is where the individual experience of the pest controller is vital.
A careful and targeted application of insecticides to every possible hiding place is essential; we have technicians that solely specialize in the thorough detection of all harbourage areas and the eradication and control of Ants. We believe that success is best achieved through practiced experience and our technicians deal with Ants on a day-to-day basis.
We can propose a range of chemical treatment and environmental control options, all dependent upon the scope of your individual level of chemical tolerance and personal expectation. Also, based upon what the severity of the infestation will allow, this may include one of or a combination of the following:
Surface spraying
Space spraying
Dusting
Gel Baits
Always safety first - in keeping with all our pest treatments we always promote the judicial use professional strength industry approved insecticidal dusts and aerosol spray applications hitting the Ants nesting locations.
Due to their remarkably quick breeding habits, it is important to identify and deal with an Ant problem before it gets out of control.
We offer reliable, cost effective service that complies with all legislative requirements.
We guarantee to be in touch with you within 24 hours (Monday to Friday) to arrange an appointment.
Pest Signs... What to look for...
Ant trails
Ants follow the warmth indoors in colder months and if they are not readily visible in your kitchen and bathroom, they will be found congregating in the roof cavity and subfloor areas
The entrance to a nest can sometimes look like a small conical pile of soil or dirt
Locating the actual colonies nesting site is not always possible, as ants can enter through the minutest of openings and they are very good at nesting in concealed locations.
Ant types:
Argentine Ant
(Linepithema humile)
Argentine ants are an introduced species to Australia. They are slender, light to dark brown in colour, about 1.5 – 3.0mm long and have eyes close to the base of their antennae. They do not produce a smell when crushed and do not have a soldier caste. Their colonies are massive and may contain hundreds of queens.
Argentine ants are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat almost anything, but prefer sweet foods such as fruits but will also eat meat and feed on live and dead insects. They are slow moving and travel long distances in well-defined columns three or more wide. These ants will usually nest outside in the bases of trees or around the edges of buildings, paths and lawns but will move indoors during wet weather events.
Argentine ants will bite but they do not sting and they will climb over anything put in their way. Their ability to travel long distances in the search for food makes location of the colonies nesting site very difficult.
Black House Ant
(Ochetellus)
Black house ants are approx. 2.5-3.0mm in length, strikingly shiny and black with a sometimes purple-green iridescence. They are smaller and stockier than the white footed house ants and give off a distinctive strong odour when crushed. These ants bite but do not sting and are an introduced species.
They often nest outside around the edges of rockeries, paths and other garden structures but are also commonly found in indoors in our ceilings, subfloors and wall cavities. Black house ants will eat a wide variety of foods but prefer to consume sweeter substances.
Bulldog Ant (Bull Ant)
(Mymecia)
Bull Dog ants, (AKA Bull ants), are very aggressive and will attack in numbers if a nest is disturbed. Picture a wasp with its wings ripped off, and you'll have a good image of what a Bull ant is capable of. They have long bodies that measure about 18 - 40mm long making them easy to identify and are reddish or black in appearance.
They are named for their very nasty and painful bite and can also inflict repeated painful stings to their victims. An ice pack or commercially available spray may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of an allergic reaction, medical attention should be sought.
Seldom found nesting in buildings they mainly locate themselves in bushy areas typically preferring to set up their nests outdoors in the subsoil, (sometimes several meters underground), and under logs and rocks.
They attack intruders of any size that come too close to their nest. Bull ants also have well-developed vision and will follow or even chase an intruder a good distance from their nest when threatened. The Queen commonly leaves the nest at night to forage for a food supply feeding on insects, plant nectar and honeydew collected from Aphids and scale insects.
Coastal Brown Ant
(Pheidole megacephala)
Coastal brown ants, (also known as big-head ants), are a major problem ant category in Melbourne. They are an urban pest with powerful jaws and are often found in lawns and congregate in brick paving which they tend to destabilize. They are about 3.5 - 4.5mm in length and tend to be shiny yellowy brown to dark brown in colour. The coastal brown is an introduced ant species originating from Africa.
Nesting sites are found both within the interior and on the exterior of structures, within our wall cavities, in garden beds and under sub-floor areas. There are multiple queens in multiple interconnected nests that link together forming a ‘super-colony’. It is for this reason that invasions of buildings can be very severe when population numbers outside spiral out of control.
These ants can sting, and the sting can cause great discomfort to people. These ants prefer food of animal origin, meat and fatty oil-based foods and are particularly active in late summer, autumn and early winter.
Pharaoh's Ant
(Monomorium pharaonis)
Pharaoh’s ants are generally found in large colonies containing many Queens that can number into the hundreds of thousands. They commonly nest in the warmer locations within structures associated with humid conditions and are frequently found in nursing homes, hospitals and food service areas where they spread disease and contaminate sterile equipment. They prefer high protein foods such as meats, blood, fatty foods and vegetables and are an introduced species.
The males are approximately 3mm long, black and winged and the Queens are about 3.5 - 6mm long, dark red in colour and also have wings. A single queen can produce up to 3,500 eggs in her lifetime.
Any attempt at DIY control of a Pharaoh ant colony is not advised as the ants will scatter if a toxic substance disturbs it, creating multiple problems where there had once been one.
Singapore Ant
(Monomorium destructor)
Singapore ants eat a variety of food materials that are high in protein and sugar but are particularly loathed for their voracious appetite for wiring, meter boxes, irrigation pipes and plastic materials. These ants have the capability to damage electrical cables causing malfunctions in electrical equipment and telecommunications systems. They have also been blamed for car and house fires.
They are 2 - 3mm in length, light brown with a darker belly and rear end and have flat rectangular shaped heads. Nests are typically found in and around the perimeter of buildings, under concrete pathways, in cracks and crevices and behind skirting boards.
Singapore ants actually originated in North Africa and were introduced to Australia more than 100 years ago. Each highly organised colony possesses multiple queens and they are very adaptable to many environments easily out-performing the other local native ants. Singapore ants have a painful sting and have been known to attack sleeping babies and children.
Whitefooted House Ant (aka; Black Ants)
(Technomyrmex albipes)
White footed house ants (also known as black ants in Victoria) are shiny darkish brown to black in colour and range from approximately 2.8 – 3.5 mm in length. When viewed under a microscope, they have visibly light coloured feet. They bite but don’t sting and are an introduced species. Colonies can number to more than a million ants, half of which are female so the ability to rapidly reproduce is massive thus making these very invasive ants quite hard to eradicate.
These ants are primarily nocturnal and prefer moist habitats located close to their food source. When colony numbers increase the parent colony will splinter off and establish new colonies short distances away resulting in mass migrations of worker ants following their winged queens to the new nesting locations.
Their ideal nesting locations are in wall cavities, behind cupboards and skirtings and in kitchen areas near bins or where food is stored or prepared. Omnivorous by nature, they are attracted to sweet substances such as plant nectars, honeydew, flowers and sweet human food substances but will also eat meats and prey on other insects.
Carpenter Ant (aka; Sugar Ants)
(Camponotus spp)
One of the most common, widespread ant species in Australia, these ants can vary in colour, from black through to light brown and range in size from approximately 2.5mm to 14mm in length and will travel long distances in search of well-supplied food sources. Carpenter ants most commonly make their nests outside in decaying and rotting wood but will sometimes infest and damage timbers in buildings, especially those that experience problems with poor ventilation and dampness.
Carpenter ants don’t sting but they will bite, spraying a defensive shot of formic acid into the bite wound, further increasing the pain and discomfort to the victim. They will often prey on live and dead insects but are true omnivores that love sweet foods as well as household wastes.
Odorous House Ant
(Tapinoma sessile)
Odorous house ants are brown to dark brown in colour and measure 2 to 3 mm in length. The most distinguishing characteristic of odorous house ants is the smell that is emitted when their bodies are crushed not dissimilar to the smell of rancid butter. Commonly to be found nesting within buildings they prefer the confines of wall cavities, under stoves, in cupboards and under sub-floors.
Odorous house ants live in colonies that may comprise two or more queens and workers numbering into the hundreds of thousands. Development time from egg to adult typically ranges from 35 to 80 days. These ants are known to forage day and night feeding on the honeydew produced by aphids but may move indoors for food when the honeydew supply is reduced in autumn. They will eat most types of household foods such as breadcrumbs, grease, dairy products, pastries and meats displaying preferences for sweet substances as well.
More information:
Ant scouts can be seen indoors searching for food and water during the dryer months. When a good supply is located, thousands of workers will return following an invisible pheromone trail to help collect the food and return it to the colony.
Ants can nest anywhere internally and externally. They build underground nests in garden beds, old tree stumps, lawns, retaining walls, under foot paths and concrete slabs.
Some colonies are resided over by a single queen while other larger colonies are supported by multiple queens and may contain up to a million individuals.
Under ideal conditions, queens may live up to 15 years and worker ants may live as long as seven.
Once every year the colony will produce winged queens who will swarm away and set up their own, new colonies.
Ants are social insects that live in permanent nests. They operate within a hierarchical caste system consisting of Queen, worker and soldiers.
Ants are not related to termites.
Ants have four stages of development, egg, pupa larva and adult. The transition from egg to adult may take anywhere from six weeks to very long periods depending on the species, food availability and seasonal changes.
Most ant species, communicate through pheromones. There are many different types of pheromones each representing a different message. For example, a recruitment pheromone to attract other ants to a new food source or nesting sites, or alarm pheromones announcing the presence of impending danger.
• Worker ants communicate by touching each other with their antennae to transfer and read the pheromone messages that are transported on each other’s bodies
First Aid Information:
Important: The following information is provided as a guide only and should not in any way be relied upon or used as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are in any doubt in regards to a physical reaction you are experiencing as the result of a pest related encounter please consult a doctor or medical professional immediately.
If you experience any of the following symptoms after being stung:
Difficulty breathing.
Wheezing.
Vomiting.
Nausea or diarrhoea.
Feeling faint or dizzy.
Swollen face or mouth.
Problems swallowing.
Asthmatic or any other type of allergic reaction.
Then seek medical attention immediately.
Depending on the species, Ant stings and bites can be particularly painful and distressing to adults, children and pets. Ant venom can be a mixture of any number of irritants and toxins which they can spray or inject, the main constituent of which is formic acid. In some circumstances, severe allergic reactions can be caused by ant stings which may present as chest pain, nausea, sweating, and loss of breath, serious swelling, fever, dizziness, and slurred speech.
Prevention tips:
We can advise you on ways to help prevent and minimise the likelihood of ants re-establishing inside around your home, for instance:
A successful treatment is dependent upon the close co-operation between the property owner and the pest controller. Prior to and after your bed bug treatment, we highly recommend you consider these helpful tips.
Clean up spills immediately, when you reduce the food and water available, you reduce the numbers of ants.
Make certain that food products are stored off the ground, clear of walls and in tightly sealed containers.
Always avoid leaving rubbish stored indoors overnight, put it in the bin straight away, otherwise it will attract ants by morning.
Promote regular stock rotation and clean up spills from damaged packaging.
Confirm your garbage is kept neat, secure and lids locked down at all times.
Although ants can enter any structure through the minutest opening sealing up cracks in your properties ‘hot spots’ like doors and windows will make a difference
Commercial information:
Ants seen foraging around the exterior of the workplace is usually a tolerated occurrence but when they invade the interior of our staff rooms, canteens and food preparation areas their presence is unacceptable. Those of us operating within the food sales industry must maintain a sanitary environment free from the contaminating effects of these disease carrying pests. Extra vigilance is required with sanitation in the food and beverage and hospitality industries.
Your hard earned and well-deserved reputation is everything and complacency can result in an outbreak that will tarnish the reputation of even the most trusted establishment. Therefore, it is imperative you have an ant control program in place.
Ants are a bad look for any business, they are attracted to sugary sweet foods, fruits, meat, fats and oils and exclusion can be difficult as they can enter any structure through the minutest openings.
We have an unbeaten, proven track record in commercial Ant control. We provide our customers with the peace of mind that comes with dependable year-round guaranteed protection backed by up by a no-questions asked, results based service. If you require an immediate response to a current pest problem or perhaps you're simply reassessing an existing strategy. Call us; we are here to help you.
'A One size fits all' approach does not apply in pest control…
Based on a comprehensive assessment of your premises and factoring in its unique environmental conditions, we can develop a customised protection plan that suits your individual requirements. Prevention of any pest problem is the ideal and achievable goal. Our technicians can implement immediate, targeted control programs, in key harbourage areas, and advise you on proactive physical exclusion techniques. We also provide guidance and monitoring strategies that focus on non-chemical environmental control methods that enable us to achieve these goals.
The identification of pest "hot spots" through regular detailed monitoring is an integral part of any proactive eradication strategy.
Stringent health and safety regulations apply to the control and management of pests in business and commercial situations. Maintaining that control relies on regular monitoring, targeted strategies and effective communication between all stakeholders across the entire pest control process.
Pests problems result in the following problems:
Production interruptions and costly delays
The spread of illness and disease
Contamination and loss of stock
Breach of health regulations
Destruction of materials and inventory
Damage to amenities
Decreased employee productivity and increased absenteeism
Negative customer experience
Ant treatment is an integrated effort that involves habitat and source eradication coupled with the use of chemical control products as needed. This may include the application of insecticides to the vegetation sites that adult ants use for harbourage and breeding purposes or introducing insect growth regulators to help prevent development.
Ant population control is dependent upon the availability of breeding habitats and the Ant species, as well as many other factors. Should you experience ants in your working environment, contact us to discuss the options.
Supermarket insect repellents can be effective at temporarily keeping a small number of ants at bay however; studies have found that ants can ignore these repellents over time because of repeated exposure. Supermarket repellents also begin to lose their effectiveness soon after application, which requires then constant re-application in order to maintain even the slightest level of protection. The only practical and effective way to control ant populations, is with the targeted application of quality commercial pesticides used in conjunction with an effective environmental control program - and this is what we provide!
Simply call 03 8840 9572to speak with us directly or fill in the Contact Us form and we'll respond to your enquiry in a timely fashion
We hold public liability insurance of $20 million and professional indemnity insurance of $500,000 for your piece of mind. An insurance certificate is available on request.
Possum catchers are fully compliant with all the necessary statutory and mandatory requirements relating to the Wildlife Act 1975 and all our staff are fully trained in all aspects of the Occupational health and safety act's systems and controls.
We are licenced Type 1 Commercial Wildlife Controllers and have nationally recognised qualifications in Cert III Asset Maintenance as well as full accreditation in all pest management systems Cert IV General pest & Termite Management.
We also hold the following Industry Accreditations: EWP Operator licence - (Yellow Card - scissor and boom lift), Victorian Construction Induction - White Card, Working at Heights licenced, current accreditation Working with Children.
Ants
Ants belong to the order Hymenoptera. (Closely related to bees and wasps).
Introduction
Ants are one of the most relentless and robust insects known to man and of all the insects that infest buildings, ants are the most common. They flourish in most environments and constantly invade our homes, indirectly competing with us for our food and shelter satisfying their quest to feed and expand the colony.
These disease carrying insects scavenge for rotting food in garbage bins, over dog excrement, pet food bowls and through animal carcasses before tracking bacteria into our homes over benchtops and onto our food.
Their colonies range in size from a few hundred individuals living outside in the garden to highly organised armies living within the walls of your home numbering into the millions.
The discovery of a solitary ant inside your home is usually a warning of larger things to come. Nearby colonies constantly send out scouts to locate new food sources, soon others will follow guided by an invisible pheromone trail laid down by the scouts that acts as a directional guide for a mass invasion.
There are over 4000 thousand known ant species in Australia alone all of which have the capability to bite, causing allergic reactions in both children and adults, and in some cases... death. Small numbers sighted in kitchens and food storage areas can and will increase rapidly so it's important to have ants removed from these areas as quickly as possible.
These pests cause the following problems:
Treatment details, warranty & cost
Our Ant treatments include a complete internal spray of all affected areas and depending on the species of ant we may apply non-aerosol gel baits where required. If you opt for an external treatment, we will thoroughly spray the exterior of the building surface, covering window & doorframes, garage, pathways, all outdoor fixtures and fittings and garden areas. Where is access is available we will also dust the subfloor areas.
*PLEASE NOTE: The price list table above is based on ‘SIGHT UNSEEN’ and reflects the cost to treat an average home, however there may be factors that are unknown to us that might affect how much it will cost to eradicate Ants from your home. Treatment cost largely depends on the size and the extent of the affected areas as well as the intensity of infestation. The ease of accessibility for inspection and treatment purposes may also be a factor in cost determination. Our warranty period may be positively or negatively affected depending on the surrounding environmental circumstances, the level of housekeeping procedures and the assessed risk of possible re-infestation. Also, please note, these prices are solely for domestic properties only.
WARRANTY
Depending on environmental factors, our service carries a 3-6-month warranty from date of service. The ease of accessibility for inspection and treatment purposes may also be a factor in cost determination. Guarantee periods may be positively or negatively affected depending on the surrounding environmental circumstances, the level of housekeeping procedures and the assessed risk of possible re-infestation.
PREPARATION
In order to carry out a treatment efficiently we will require you/tenant to be present on the day of treatment where at this stage you/tenant would have cleared all areas that require spraying/treatment i.e. removal all of kitchen utensils, pots & pans, crockery, food items from benches, tea towels, bathroom towels, toothbrushes, soaps etc.
All toys to be covered or removed and stored away. Also, all pet food bowls and pets to be removed from the premises for a minimum 4 hours. Once our technician has confirmed that all these items have been cleared, you/tenant will be required to leave during the treatment process. We require you/tenant to leave the property unattended for a minimum of 4 hours, this allows our spray treatments to dry and set.
After this time, you may re-enter, and we recommend opening windows and doors to allow ventilation. If areas are still damp, we recommend you turn on heating and/or fans to expedite the drying of our treatment.
If the weather is inclement (rain forecast) on the day of treatment, we will reschedule the external spray for a more suitable day
The effective treatment of ants depends on a number of factors:
- The type of species.
- The degree and location of the infestation.
- The accessibility and location of the nesting sites.
- How established the infestation has become.
You can rest easy knowing that all of our treatments are 100% completely safe for your family and pets and are the most environmentally friendly methods around.Pest Signs... What to look for...
Ant types:
Argentine Ant
(Linepithema humile)
Argentine ants are an introduced species to Australia. They are slender, light to dark brown in colour, about 1.5 – 3.0mm long and have eyes close to the base of their antennae. They do not produce a smell when crushed and do not have a soldier caste. Their colonies are massive and may contain hundreds of queens.
Argentine ants are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat almost anything, but prefer sweet foods such as fruits but will also eat meat and feed on live and dead insects. They are slow moving and travel long distances in well-defined columns three or more wide. These ants will usually nest outside in the bases of trees or around the edges of buildings, paths and lawns but will move indoors during wet weather events.
Argentine ants will bite but they do not sting and they will climb over anything put in their way. Their ability to travel long distances in the search for food makes location of the colonies nesting site very difficult.
Black House Ant
(Ochetellus)
Black house ants are approx. 2.5-3.0mm in length, strikingly shiny and black with a sometimes purple-green iridescence. They are smaller and stockier than the white footed house ants and give off a distinctive strong odour when crushed. These ants bite but do not sting and are an introduced species.
They often nest outside around the edges of rockeries, paths and other garden structures but are also commonly found in indoors in our ceilings, subfloors and wall cavities. Black house ants will eat a wide variety of foods but prefer to consume sweeter substances.
Bulldog Ant (Bull Ant)
(Mymecia)
Bull Dog ants, (AKA Bull ants), are very aggressive and will attack in numbers if a nest is disturbed. Picture a wasp with its wings ripped off, and you'll have a good image of what a Bull ant is capable of. They have long bodies that measure about 18 - 40mm long making them easy to identify and are reddish or black in appearance.
They are named for their very nasty and painful bite and can also inflict repeated painful stings to their victims. An ice pack or commercially available spray may be used to relieve the pain of the sting. If there is evidence of an allergic reaction, medical attention should be sought.
Seldom found nesting in buildings they mainly locate themselves in bushy areas typically preferring to set up their nests outdoors in the subsoil, (sometimes several meters underground), and under logs and rocks.
They attack intruders of any size that come too close to their nest. Bull ants also have well-developed vision and will follow or even chase an intruder a good distance from their nest when threatened. The Queen commonly leaves the nest at night to forage for a food supply feeding on insects, plant nectar and honeydew collected from Aphids and scale insects.
Coastal Brown Ant
(Pheidole megacephala)
Coastal brown ants, (also known as big-head ants), are a major problem ant category in Melbourne. They are an urban pest with powerful jaws and are often found in lawns and congregate in brick paving which they tend to destabilize. They are about 3.5 - 4.5mm in length and tend to be shiny yellowy brown to dark brown in colour. The coastal brown is an introduced ant species originating from Africa.
Nesting sites are found both within the interior and on the exterior of structures, within our wall cavities, in garden beds and under sub-floor areas. There are multiple queens in multiple interconnected nests that link together forming a ‘super-colony’. It is for this reason that invasions of buildings can be very severe when population numbers outside spiral out of control.
These ants can sting, and the sting can cause great discomfort to people. These ants prefer food of animal origin, meat and fatty oil-based foods and are particularly active in late summer, autumn and early winter.
Pharaoh's Ant
(Monomorium pharaonis)
Pharaoh’s ants are generally found in large colonies containing many Queens that can number into the hundreds of thousands. They commonly nest in the warmer locations within structures associated with humid conditions and are frequently found in nursing homes, hospitals and food service areas where they spread disease and contaminate sterile equipment. They prefer high protein foods such as meats, blood, fatty foods and vegetables and are an introduced species.
The males are approximately 3mm long, black and winged and the Queens are about 3.5 - 6mm long, dark red in colour and also have wings. A single queen can produce up to 3,500 eggs in her lifetime.
Any attempt at DIY control of a Pharaoh ant colony is not advised as the ants will scatter if a toxic substance disturbs it, creating multiple problems where there had once been one.
Singapore Ant
(Monomorium destructor)
Singapore ants eat a variety of food materials that are high in protein and sugar but are particularly loathed for their voracious appetite for wiring, meter boxes, irrigation pipes and plastic materials. These ants have the capability to damage electrical cables causing malfunctions in electrical equipment and telecommunications systems. They have also been blamed for car and house fires.
They are 2 - 3mm in length, light brown with a darker belly and rear end and have flat rectangular shaped heads. Nests are typically found in and around the perimeter of buildings, under concrete pathways, in cracks and crevices and behind skirting boards.
Singapore ants actually originated in North Africa and were introduced to Australia more than 100 years ago. Each highly organised colony possesses multiple queens and they are very adaptable to many environments easily out-performing the other local native ants. Singapore ants have a painful sting and have been known to attack sleeping babies and children.
Whitefooted House Ant (aka; Black Ants)
(Technomyrmex albipes)
White footed house ants (also known as black ants in Victoria) are shiny darkish brown to black in colour and range from approximately 2.8 – 3.5 mm in length. When viewed under a microscope, they have visibly light coloured feet. They bite but don’t sting and are an introduced species. Colonies can number to more than a million ants, half of which are female so the ability to rapidly reproduce is massive thus making these very invasive ants quite hard to eradicate.
These ants are primarily nocturnal and prefer moist habitats located close to their food source. When colony numbers increase the parent colony will splinter off and establish new colonies short distances away resulting in mass migrations of worker ants following their winged queens to the new nesting locations.
Their ideal nesting locations are in wall cavities, behind cupboards and skirtings and in kitchen areas near bins or where food is stored or prepared. Omnivorous by nature, they are attracted to sweet substances such as plant nectars, honeydew, flowers and sweet human food substances but will also eat meats and prey on other insects.
Carpenter Ant (aka; Sugar Ants)
(Camponotus spp)
One of the most common, widespread ant species in Australia, these ants can vary in colour, from black through to light brown and range in size from approximately 2.5mm to 14mm in length and will travel long distances in search of well-supplied food sources. Carpenter ants most commonly make their nests outside in decaying and rotting wood but will sometimes infest and damage timbers in buildings, especially those that experience problems with poor ventilation and dampness.
Carpenter ants don’t sting but they will bite, spraying a defensive shot of formic acid into the bite wound, further increasing the pain and discomfort to the victim. They will often prey on live and dead insects but are true omnivores that love sweet foods as well as household wastes.
Odorous House Ant
(Tapinoma sessile)
Odorous house ants are brown to dark brown in colour and measure 2 to 3 mm in length. The most distinguishing characteristic of odorous house ants is the smell that is emitted when their bodies are crushed not dissimilar to the smell of rancid butter. Commonly to be found nesting within buildings they prefer the confines of wall cavities, under stoves, in cupboards and under sub-floors.
Odorous house ants live in colonies that may comprise two or more queens and workers numbering into the hundreds of thousands. Development time from egg to adult typically ranges from 35 to 80 days. These ants are known to forage day and night feeding on the honeydew produced by aphids but may move indoors for food when the honeydew supply is reduced in autumn. They will eat most types of household foods such as breadcrumbs, grease, dairy products, pastries and meats displaying preferences for sweet substances as well.
More information:
Ant scouts can be seen indoors searching for food and water during the dryer months. When a good supply is located, thousands of workers will return following an invisible pheromone trail to help collect the food and return it to the colony.
Ants can nest anywhere internally and externally. They build underground nests in garden beds, old tree stumps, lawns, retaining walls, under foot paths and concrete slabs.
Some colonies are resided over by a single queen while other larger colonies are supported by multiple queens and may contain up to a million individuals.
Under ideal conditions, queens may live up to 15 years and worker ants may live as long as seven.
Once every year the colony will produce winged queens who will swarm away and set up their own, new colonies.
Ants are social insects that live in permanent nests. They operate within a hierarchical caste system consisting of Queen, worker and soldiers.
Ants are not related to termites.
Ants have four stages of development, egg, pupa larva and adult. The transition from egg to adult may take anywhere from six weeks to very long periods depending on the species, food availability and seasonal changes.
Most ant species, communicate through pheromones. There are many different types of pheromones each representing a different message. For example, a recruitment pheromone to attract other ants to a new food source or nesting sites, or alarm pheromones announcing the presence of impending danger.
• Worker ants communicate by touching each other with their antennae to transfer and read the pheromone messages that are transported on each other’s bodies
First Aid Information:
Important: The following information is provided as a guide only and should not in any way be relied upon or used as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are in any doubt in regards to a physical reaction you are experiencing as the result of a pest related encounter please consult a doctor or medical professional immediately.
If you experience any of the following symptoms after being stung:
Then seek medical attention immediately.
Depending on the species, Ant stings and bites can be particularly painful and distressing to adults, children and pets. Ant venom can be a mixture of any number of irritants and toxins which they can spray or inject, the main constituent of which is formic acid. In some circumstances, severe allergic reactions can be caused by ant stings which may present as chest pain, nausea, sweating, and loss of breath, serious swelling, fever, dizziness, and slurred speech.
Prevention tips:
A successful treatment is dependent upon the close co-operation between the property owner and the pest controller. Prior to and after your bed bug treatment, we highly recommend you consider these helpful tips.
Commercial information:
Ants seen foraging around the exterior of the workplace is usually a tolerated occurrence but when they invade the interior of our staff rooms, canteens and food preparation areas their presence is unacceptable. Those of us operating within the food sales industry must maintain a sanitary environment free from the contaminating effects of these disease carrying pests. Extra vigilance is required with sanitation in the food and beverage and hospitality industries.
Your hard earned and well-deserved reputation is everything and complacency can result in an outbreak that will tarnish the reputation of even the most trusted establishment. Therefore, it is imperative you have an ant control program in place.
Ants are a bad look for any business, they are attracted to sugary sweet foods, fruits, meat, fats and oils and exclusion can be difficult as they can enter any structure through the minutest openings.
We have an unbeaten, proven track record in commercial Ant control. We provide our customers with the peace of mind that comes with dependable year-round guaranteed protection backed by up by a no-questions asked, results based service. If you require an immediate response to a current pest problem or perhaps you're simply reassessing an existing strategy. Call us; we are here to help you.
'A One size fits all' approach does not apply in pest control…
Based on a comprehensive assessment of your premises and factoring in its unique environmental conditions, we can develop a customised protection plan that suits your individual requirements. Prevention of any pest problem is the ideal and achievable goal. Our technicians can implement immediate, targeted control programs, in key harbourage areas, and advise you on proactive physical exclusion techniques. We also provide guidance and monitoring strategies that focus on non-chemical environmental control methods that enable us to achieve these goals.
The identification of pest "hot spots" through regular detailed monitoring is an integral part of any proactive eradication strategy.
Stringent health and safety regulations apply to the control and management of pests in business and commercial situations. Maintaining that control relies on regular monitoring, targeted strategies and effective communication between all stakeholders across the entire pest control process.
Pests problems result in the following problems:
Ant treatment is an integrated effort that involves habitat and source eradication coupled with the use of chemical control products as needed. This may include the application of insecticides to the vegetation sites that adult ants use for harbourage and breeding purposes or introducing insect growth regulators to help prevent development.
Ant population control is dependent upon the availability of breeding habitats and the Ant species, as well as many other factors. Should you experience ants in your working environment, contact us to discuss the options.
Supermarket insect repellents can be effective at temporarily keeping a small number of ants at bay however; studies have found that ants can ignore these repellents over time because of repeated exposure. Supermarket repellents also begin to lose their effectiveness soon after application, which requires then constant re-application in order to maintain even the slightest level of protection. The only practical and effective way to control ant populations, is with the targeted application of quality commercial pesticides used in conjunction with an effective environmental control program - and this is what we provide!
Simply call 03 8840 9572to speak with us directly or fill in the Contact Us form and we'll respond to your enquiry in a timely fashion