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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.

Steps to controlling ants in the household

1.Inspection

2.Identification

3.Recommendation

4.Treatment

5.Evaluation

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.

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.

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.

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.

antshadow
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