Black House Ants
Classification
Species category: Ant
Scientific Name: Ochetellus Glaber
SAME DAY MELBOURNE PEST ANT CONTROL
- PROMPT
- AFFORDABLE
- DEPENDABLE
- Licensed & Insured
- Risk Free Guarantee
- $0 Call Out Fee
- Professional Pest Control Solutions
- 24/7 Priority Melbourne Service
- Friendly & Approachable Experts
- Family owned
- Quality service
BEST ANT CONTROL PRICE GUARANTEE*
OR WE'LL BEAT IT! CALL NOW. *T&CS APPLY
OR
MONDAY SPECIAL OFFERS FOR MELBOURNE
Save! Save! Save! Check more of our new and exciting deals by visiting our Pest Control services pages. Call us now on 0412 405 489 to save on Pest Control!
*Terms & Conditions Apply: Only redeemable between the standard business hours of 7am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Excludes Emergency work and call out fees. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Not exchangeable for cash. Limited to one use per job.
Ants Do’s and Don’t’s
Tips for keeping Ants away from your home
- Remove food sources
- Keep food stored tightly.
- Clean up any food and drink spills immediately.
- Rinse out cans and bottles before placing them into the recycling bin.
- Pick up pet food at night and don’t feed them outdoors
- Seal possible entrances
- Dispose your waste correctly
- Keep your home dry
- Clean your house regularly
- Use a pest control company with a guarantee
Even by following all of the tips mentioned above, ants can still reach your home. The best way to get rid of ants and stay protected is to get the help of a specialist. Melbourne Pest Solutions is a family owned and operated company that has over 25 years of combined pest control experience. We have extensive knowledge and experience in this field, and can provide you with professional results.
Our services have high standards and we offer pest solutions to residential, commercial and corporate areas, hospitals and schools. We are using the latest technology, in order to offer the best results.
Early detection can save you a lot of money, so it’s better to act now than to be sorry later. Book your Melbourne Pest Solutions inspection now by calling 0412 405 489 or emailing hello@melbournepest.com.au and allow us to protect your work, your home and your family.
The Ant Hierarchy
- An egg-laying female (Queen)
- Short-lived males and workers (sterile female)
- Foragers in gardens or kitchens (Workers)
Treatment for Ant Control
Ant control can be extremely difficult, but there are some things you should know about their behaviour that will help you keep them under control.
- Entry: Ants can enter through even the tiniest cracks, seeking out water and sweet or greasy food substances.
- Colony Lifetime: A colony can live a relatively long lifetime. Worker ants may live seven years and the queen may live as long as 15 years.
- Colony size: A colony can contain thousands of Ants and whole colonies can at times quickly relocate quickly when threatened.
- Pheromone trails: Ants leave an invisible chemical trail containing pheromones for other ants to follow once they locate the food source.
- Nest locations: Ants can nest anywhere in and around your buildings in lawns, walls, stumps, foundations, and even under concrete slabs making a small crack a new highway into your property.
- Do-it-yourself ineffectiveness: Most do-it-yourself ant control approaches only kill the ants you see and are rarely ineffective as a long term solution to infestations.
Description
A small ant species with an intensely-black colour. It has a prominent petiole (connection between the rear body parts) which distinguishes it from other ants like the white-footed variety. This ant measures 2.5mm and is slightly smaller and stockier than the white-footed variety.
An Australasian native, they are found in rural and urban areas and are very prevalent in Australia. They are often a pest of domestic environments and will build their nest in cracks or gaps, beside pathways. They generally enter the home in search of food. Like other ant species, they will nest underground and also in voids, for e.g. roof voids or wall cavities.
Behaviour
Black ants have defined roles within their colony. Each nest has one queen (monogenic).
- The worker ants (sterile females), build the nest, look after larvae, and forage for food.
- The queens (fertile females) remain mainly in the nest, mating with fertile males.
Before mating, the ants take to the sky. Winged reproductive males and females are involved in a mass flight. The males die after mating, but the females shed their wings and burrow in the ground where they overwinter. Any worker ants that exhibit unusual behaviour are expelled from nest or killed.
They have a preference for sugary liquids, however, this species also feed on seeds and plants so can be a pest in stored food facilities. They navigate away from and to the nest in trails. Follow the trail to find the nest. They will also swarm during the nuptial flight, which can be distressing for a building’s inhabitants.
Risks
This ant is considered more of a nuisance than a very destructive pest. It’s also an expert at creating nests in difficult to spot cracks and crevices, making colony elimination a tricky task. There can be more than one queen in the colony and reproduction is fast. The Black Ant causes primary damage to foods. It also contaminates areas with faeces and when it disposes of ‘rubbish’ from the nest – this is typically body parts of dead colony members.
Once inside and around buildings, they can cause various types of damage. Black Ants enjoy the sweet secretions of aphids and protect the aphid population, in doing so, they allow the aphids to further damage the plants they inhabit.
These ants can cause structural damage by shifting the foundation sand and create uneven patches and even holes in turf by moving soil underneath.
Bull Ants
Classification
Species category: Ant
Scientific Name: Mycemia spp
Description
One of the largest sized species of ants in Australia, they typically measure 15-36mm in length. The Bulldog Ant, also commonly known as a Bull Ant or Jumper Ant, is red/black in colour and has very long, straight, distinguishing mandibles which make them instantly recognisable with large eyes.
Almost an exclusive Australian species, they are widely distributed across all states.
Typically found outdoors, they build their nests underground, although, some favour a hollowed tree trunk or rotten log. The nest is difficult to locate as it features a small opening which is covered with plants or debris. They will attack any intruder that comes close to the nest.
Behaviour
The Bulldog Ant forages for a protein based diet which predominantly includes other insects. They also enjoy nectar, seeds and fruits.
Colonies tend to be small but the queen does invade other colonies and take them captive, killing the original queen.
Risks
Known for its aggressive nature, this ant produces a potent, venom-filled sting which causes incredible pain for the victim. They are mainly vicious when they sense the nest is in danger.
An allergic reaction or multiple bites in humans can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be dangerous.
The Bulldog Ant mainly uses its venom to paralyse insect prey.
Carpenter Ant
Classification
Species category: Ant
Scientific Name: Componotus spp
Description
The Carpenter Ant is a large ant species that varies in colour from black to dark brown to brownish orange and will measure 3-12mm in length. It has a smooth, evenly rounded, thorax with a distinct single node on pedicel (petiole). The mandibles have 5-8 teeth.
This species is polymorphic, so can have multiple different sizes of worker ant in the colony.
Carpenter ants have a widespread distribution and are found all across Australia.
They live both indoors and outdoors but prefer to nest in moist wood. This may be the bark of a decaying tree, some rotting timber or in the home it could be a damaged wooden joist.
When creating the nest, they tunnel through the wood but do not eat it as they don’t digest cellulose. Nests are created in moistened wood as this species requires moist and humid environment.
Behaviour
Despite the name, this species does not eat wood and prefers sugary liquids like honeydew and the sweet secretions of bugs such as aphids, hence why they tend to aphids on plants. They will also eat fluids and body parts of dead insects.
The name derives from the ant’s preference for boring into wood when nest building. Rather than eat the wood, it deposits it outside the nest.
Risks
In general, Carpenter Ants tend to be a nuisance more than a destructive pest. Unlike termites, their work on wood is not necessarily rapid. However, an untreated infestation can grow fast and over time can weaken the fabric of a property.
Ant Identification – What Do Ants Look Like?
While there are about 25 different ant species known to infest homes, they all share similar characteristics including antennae and six legs, while their size may differ by species. Ants are social insects, meaning they live in colonies that can house up to hundreds of thousands of individuals, so you will likely see more than one at a time. Inside the home, ants can primarily be found in the kitchen and bathrooms, as these areas provide access to food as well as moisture.
How Do You Get Rid of Ants in the House
Although they may be small in size, ants can pose serious threats by contaminating food and damaging property. Living and working in large colonies, an ant infestation can quickly spread if left unchecked. To help keep your home ant-free, follow these tips:
- Seal cracks and crevices around the home, especially in places where utilities enter
- Dispose of garbage regularly and use trash cans with a sealed lid
- Promptly clean up food and drink spills
- Store sweets such as honey and sugar in closed containers
- Eliminate excess moisture by repairing leaking pipes and using a dehumidifier as needed
- Remove old landscape materials, debris and excess vegetation from the property to reduce potential nesting sites for ants
Call Melbourne Pest Solutions
Ants can easily go unnoticed due to their small size, allowing infestations to rapidly expand without warning. While species like red imported fire ants can inflict painful stings and even send people to the hospital, Argentine ants and carpenter ants can contaminate food and cause significant property damage. If you suspect or discover an ant infestation, contact Melbourne Pest Solutions today.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Don’t pay extra for another appointment if your problem isn’t fixed properly the first time.
Melbourne Pest Solutions offers a risk-free solution that comes with a guarantee on workmanship for all services. If you’re not completely satisfied with your pest control service, one of our friendly technicians will come back to resolve the issue at no extra cost to you.