Ant Identification guide and Elimination

• 10 of the 16 subfamilies of Ants are found in Australia.

• 101 of the 300 genera of Ants are found in Australia.

• 1275 of 15000 species of Ants are found in Australia.

• Ants are the number one nuisance pest tohouseholds.

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Steps to controlling ants in the household

1.Inspection

2.Identification

3.Recommendation

4.Treatment

5.Evaluation

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Argentine ant

• Colonies live in moist areas near a food source

• Prefers sweets such as honeydew, fruit juices and plant secretions.

• Also forage for proteins and fats and even attack small , vulnerable animals.

• To control:(1) correct conducive conditions and seal possible entries; (2) find and treatexisting colonies; (3) apply perimeter treatments; and (4) use baits

 

Black house ant

• Nest alongside footpaths andstonework.

• Will nest indoors.

• Prefer sweet foods, but will eat seeds, plants, fats and grease.

• Their need for moisture is the most common reason for invading kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.

• If the queen dies the colony will die.

 

Carpenter Ant

• Mature colonies contain 3000 workers and one Queen per colony.

• Nests usually originate in moist, decayed wood

• Forage alone or along trails 100 or more metres from the nest.

• Peak foraging occurs at night.

• Feeds on insect honeydew, plant and fruitjuices and insects.

• Indoors, they feed on food debris, including sweets, eggs, meats, cakes, pet foods and grease.

 

Hairy or Crazy Ant

• Known for erratic movements.

• Small colonies of up to 2000 workers and 8-40 queens.

• Inside, nest under floors and wallvoids, near hot water pipes and heaters.

• Prefer insects and sweets, but will feed on any household food.

• Treat nest entrance, thorough soaking is required ti destroy the nest.

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Ghost Ant

• Inside nested are within wall voids, behind baseboards, between cabinets and walls.

• Outside nests located in potted soil, under stones, under and inside logs, in debris of trees.

• Have high moisture needs.

• Prefer insects and honeydew.

• Sweets, and will forage for water sources during dry weather.

• Dust wall voids, Spray nests directly, bait ant trails.

 

Odorous House Ant

• Up to 100 000 ants with many queens.

• Nest in wall voids especially around hot water pipes and heaters.

• Enter buildings when colonies become very large and natural food and water sourcesbecome scarce.

• Prefers sweets during the warm season.

• Will eat high protein foods and greasy meats and cheese depending on colony requirements.

• Locating nests is crucial.

 

White Footed Ant

• Can contain one million or more.

• Will invade and short out A/C units.

• Prefers sweets, feeds onhoneydew.

• Complete elimination of established white footed house ant is difficult.

• Dust walls void, treat all nest thoroughly, granular bait garden around possible nest locations.

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Big Headed or Coastal Brown Ant

• Small colonies (200-300 total)

• Nests in protected soil (under stones, leaf litter, mulch).

• Can be found in termite damaged wood.

• Prefer seeds and insects.

• Inside, they forage for meats, grease, liver, molasses, peanut butter, pet foods and fruitjuices. Preferring high protein foods.

• 2 castes or ant

 

Pavement Ant

• Outside, nest in soil. Inside, nest in wall voids, insulation and under floors.

• Move to a heat source in winter.

• Enter buildings through cracks in slab, joints and natural openings.

• Easily controlled with bait.

 

Pharoah Ant

• Prefer warm, humidareas near sources of food and water.

• Have a high daily water requirement.

• Baiting is most effective treatment

• Temprid 75 is best to stop Ants entering buildings.

• Wide variety of food preferences.

 

Fire Ant

• Aggressive and will sting repeatedly.

• Theydestroy seeds, harvest honeydew from specialized invertebrates and also scavenge.

• Nests outdoors in sunny, exposed areas of soil and lawns.

• Bait and Temprid 75 is the preferred treatment method.

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Bull Ant

• Nest underground and often have hidden or small entrances.

• Collect nectar and other plant juices.

• Temprid 75 injected directly into the nest is best treatment method.

• Attack all intruders that come near their nest.

 

Green Head Ant

• Build their nest in soil openly or under rocks.

• Predatory and scavengers.

• First insects to forage after bushfires.

• Prefer proteins but will feed on sweets.

• Temprid 75 best treatment method

 

Meat Ant

• Live in sandy, gravel soils.

• Build large nests underground.

• Painful bite.

• Forage during the day

• Omnivore scavengers

• Directly applicationof Temprid 75 to the nest is the best treatment method.