Ants

Did you know any ant species that stings you can bite you as well?

ANTS 

Why ants are considered pests?

In Australia there are over 4000 known species of ants. Only a handful of these are considered pests. Pest ants often nest in and around buildings, congregate in food preparation areas and have the potential to spread disease.

For most people ants only become a problem when they enter buildings in search of food and water or when they build their nests in buildings or gardens.

Ants can be attracted to a wide range of foods with different species having preferences for sugars, proteins, fats and oils. During extended dry periods they will also search for water. In many species once an individual has found a desirable item it will return to the nest and recruit nest mates to help gather the food. This can result in large numbers of ants rapidly appearing around an item, sometimes with long trails of ants between the nest and the item of interest.

Some ants will build nests in walls and foundations, indoor potted plants, and small spaces between fittings and walls. In nearly all cases, the ants are using pre-existing spaces or taking advantage of existing deterioration. Ants generally do not cause structural damage to buildings. A few species will occasionally attack electrical wiring for unknown reasons, and in these situations extensive damage can occur.

Outdoors, nesting can result in soil being deposited on gardens, around pots and between tiles and brickwork resulting in a mess but little damage. However, some species can form nests with large numbers of chambers just below the soil surface causing the soil to become soft and uneven. Undermining of retaining walls and interference with drainage systems is also possible. Some seed harvesting ant species can be a nuisance when attempting to grow plants by direct sowing of seeds.

Ants feed on a wide variety of foodstuffs and can be predators or scavengers. They are social insects that usually live in permanent nests. In adverse conditions a change of nest site is not uncommon.

Colony sizes vary; nests can range from a few dozen, to millions of individuals. Larger colonies consist mostly of sterile wingless females which form castes of ‘workers’. Workers may be specialised, for example into minor and major (or soldier) castes. These perform specific tasks, such as feeding and caring for the immature forms, and appear physically different. Nearly all ant colonies have fertile males called ‘drones’ and one or more fertile female called ‘queens’.

 

• Nuisance, Excavation of soil, Large Numbers

Ants are often regards as nuisance pests in and around buildings. Small mounds resulting from their excavations may be considered unsightly along garden paths, on balconies, and around skirting boards and architrave bases. Occasionally, such excavations under paths may be sufficiently extensive as to cause cracks in order paths. Ants are highly social insects and live in colonies ranging in size from a few tens of individuals to over a million individuals, depending on species. Several species of ants are almost omnivorous scavengers. These scavengers have most successfully exploited people’s dwelling. Worker ants often forage for food at night (between sunset and midnight) in the spring and summer, traveling up to 100 yards from their nest to find food. Ants sometimes remain active in the winter if their nest is warm enough from sunlight, mild outdoor temperatures or inside heat. When ants are active in the winter, they typically forage at night looking for food and moisture. You may see them near your dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs or other damp areas. When worker ants leave their nest to search for food, they leave behind a trail of pheromones (chemical scents) to help them to find their way to food source. After an ant finds food, it turns around and follows a different pheromone trail back to the nest. While it travels home, it lays down more pheromone on the trail, reinforcing the trail. When other worker ants come across the pheromone trail, they may abandon their own random search for food to follow the pheromone trail directly to the food source.

• Disease Transmission

As well as general nuisance aspects, ants may present a health risk. There are known instances of ants mechanically carrying, on their bodies or in their digestive tract, disease organisms causing dysentery, and a variety of pathogenic bacteria, including salmonella. As ants commonly scavenge in kitchens and other food handling areas, as well as in garbage cans, dog excrement and other possible sources of disease organisms, their potential for transmitting disease to humans should not be overlooked.

• Bites & Stings

There are more than 12,000 species of ants. Although they can nearly all bite or sting, few cause significant local and/or systemic reaction in humans. Most ants are too small to effectively bite humans, and their sting is mild. However, the sting from harvester ants and fire ants can cause unpleasant symptoms and may lead to allergic reactions. Many ants both bite and sting. For example, fire ants first bite, grabbing hold with their mandibles, and then sting repeatedly, injecting venom into their victim. Anyone in contact with ants is at risk of ant bites or stings, particularly if they are in an area where ants build their nests.

 

• Damage to Crops

Where plants are grown, ants may attack and damage or consume seeds and seedlings. A very common scavenging habit is the attendance of plant sucking bugs on plants. Here, ants consume honeydew and, sometimes, in exchange for this food, they will protect the often sedentary plant suckers from predators. Much like humans farm cows, ants farm aphids protecting these bad bugs from predators so they can “milk” honeydew from them. They’ll then carry the honeydew back to the nest to share with the queen and other workers. Sometimes ants move aphids to their nest or better plants. And this is the way they help increasing pest populations of the plants.

 

• Damage to Electrical Equipment

A few species will occasionally attack electrical wiring for unknown reasons, and in these situations extensive damage can occur. Scientists are yet to pin point why some species of ant are so attracted to electricity, but it is thought that they are probably attracted to the magnetic field or heat electronics give off. These ants usually nest in electrical items and this means they can pose a fire risk and when they swarm can cause blackouts. When the ants enter these devices their bodies can create connections between electrical contacts, which can lead the circuits to short out and electrocute the ants. This causes them to release an alarm pheromone, a scent ants use to communicate that they are ‘under attack,’ likely attracting the ants’ kin to come and fight. So the more ants get zapped, more ants will come to avenge their deaths, leading to more ants getting zapped. It’s a vicious cycle that can ultimately short circuit the device they are nesting in, cause a serious power outage, or even start a fire. Some electrical devices and equipment such as DVD players, air conditioners, electrical sockets, electrical outlets, electric pumps, telephone boxes and transformer boxes are commonly affected by these ants. 

In the Northern Territory alone Singapore Ants reportedly cause more than $1 million dollars in damage to electrical items every year.

 

Major ant species which bug you in Australia

 

• Argentine Ant

Argentine ants are slender, brown in colour and between 1.5 – 3mm long. They have eyes close to the base of their antennae and no spines
on the thorax. They are an introduced species and do not produce a smell when crushed.

Argentine ants travel in slow-moving, well-defined trails up to three or more ants wide. They are able to climb over anything placed in their way.

They are often seen on the trunks of trees and shrubs as their primary food source is the sweet honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects.

Argentine ants prefer sweet foods, but may also eat meat and dead insects. They usually nest outside, in the bases of tree trunks, around the edges of buildings and paths, and in lawns. They may move indoors in wet weather.

There are multiple queen ants in each nest and multiple nests may be interconnected with an exchange of queens and workers. Argentine ants do not have a soldier caste. An entire infestation from a single colony can cover several hectares.

An entire block may need treatment for Argentine ants. The perimeter of the block should be sprayed, as should the foundations of the building (for half a meter up and out from the foundations). Nests, trails, edges of paths, driveways, the butts of trees, large shrubs, and the areas around rubbish bins and taps should also be treated. Ants can re-colonise from a neighbouring area within two weeks, and a second spraying is often required.

 

• Black House Ant

Black house ants are 2.5 – 3mm long, and intensely black in colour with a sometimes subtle, purplish-green iridescence. They are smaller and stockier than the White footed house ant and produce a distinctive strong odour when crushed.

However the smell is reportedly undetectable to some. These ants bite, but don’t sting and are an introduced species.

Black house ants may import and tend aphids and other bugs on domestic pot plants. They nest outside around the edges of paths, rockeries, and other structures, and also commonly nest indoors in ceilings, cavity walls and subfloor areas. They prefer sweet foods, but will eat a variety of foodstuffs. 

 

• Carpenter Ant

Sometimes called sugar ants, Carpenter ants are one of the most common and widespread groups of ants in Australia. Species vary greatly in size and colour, ranging from about 2.5 – 14mm in overall length, and from brown to pale brown in colour.

They don’t sting, but may bite.

Carpenter ants rarely enter houses. Nests are commonly found in decaying wood, soil, between rocks, among the roots of plants and in twigs on standing shrubs or trees. These ants seldom tunnel into dry, sound wood, preferring to excavate moist, rotting wood and other soft materials to make nests.

Thus, the Carpenter ant rarely causes structural damage. Carpenter ants are usually nocturnal, will often travel long distances for food, eating live and dead insects as well as sweet foods and household waste. 

 

• Coastal Brown Ant

Coastal brown ants are shiny and light to dark brown in colour. Workers are 1.5 – 3mm and soldiers 3.5 – 4.5mm with large heads and powerful jaws. They give a relatively painless sting and are an introduced species.

These ants generally nest outside around paths and rockeries, where trails may be seen. In an infestation they are often located in the walls of houses, in wall crevices and behind skirtings. They prefer food of animal origin, including dead insects, meat particles, fat and grease. There are multiple queens in each nest and nests are characterised by a number of interconnected holes. 

 

• Pharaoh’s Ant

Pharaoh’s ants range from light yellow-brown to darker brown in colour. They are 1.5 – 3mm long and do not produce an odour when crushed.

Pharaoh’s ants are an introduced species with no soldier caste.

These ants are found in large colonies, with many queens. They commonly nest within the warmer areas of buildings (areas adjacent to heating ducts for example). They are frequently found in hospitals and nursing homes. The workers may forage over large distances for food. The Pharaoh’s ant prefers high protein foods such as meat and blood as well as fatty foods and vegetables.

Pharaoh’s ants should not be sprayed as this fragments the colony, causing groups to ‘bud’, or split-off to form new colonies. Fragmenting the colony tends to worsen ant infestations. For best results, place baits in all locations that the ants have been detected. This strategy may take months to achieve control, but is the most effective and comprehensive method.

 

• Singapore Ant

Singapore ants are an introduced species. They are light brown in colour with a darker posterior abdomen. These ants are 1.5 – 3mm long
and can inflict a painful sting.

Singapore ants are attracted to plastics in electrical, irrigation and other equipment. They frequently nest in power sockets and chew on electrical wiring, and have been responsible for electrical fires. They form slow-moving trails and feed on a variety of foodstuffs, probably preferring animal based materials to sweets.

 

• White-Footed House Ant

White footed house ants (also known as Black ants in Victoria) are shiny black ants, uniform in shape and size, 2.8 – 3.5mm long. They have a large abdomen and under a microscope, these ants have light-coloured feet. They are an introduced species and bite, but don’t sting.

White footed house ants are most common in moist, forested habitats and are more active at night.

Worker ants frequently enter houses through small cracks and, on finding a suitable food or water source, form trails with many workers travelling between their nest sites and the food source.

In general they nest outdoors but will sometimes establish small nests indoors (for example in wall cavities, behind cupboards and skirtings, and even small empty storage containers) near a well maintained food supply. These ants prefer sweet foods, but will also eat meats.

Each nest has one winged queen and many fertile, wingless ‘intercastes’ which has enormous reproductive potential. At some point ‘budding’ of the colony may take place, where a wingless reproductive and a large number of workers (who carry larvae and pupae with them), leave the parent colony and establish a new colony a short distance
away. Therefore mass migrations of ants, carrying their white babies in their mouths, may be observed. These ants can often be controlled using baiting methods. This will require some patience, and fresh bait will need to be put out daily. If ants are re-infesting from a nest outside, spraying of the nest, and perhaps walls or building foundations may
be required.

 

 

Housekeeping Preventative Measures & Control Tips

• Seal off all entry points; inspect and repair any ill-fitting, warped or broken doors and windows, check for and repair rips or tears in screens. This service is provided by BUGZOFF upon request.
• Keep the screens closed all the time if the door and windows are open.
• Seal off the interior/exterior gaps, cracks and crevices. Check for and repair cracks in the foundation, loose siding, skirting boards, floor boards, missing roof shingles, and gaps around incoming utility lines, including pipes, electric and cable wiring. This service is provided by BUGZOFF upon request.
• Eliminate water sources; reduce moisture and standing water around your home, repair leaky pipes and routinely check under sinks for areas of moisture, consider installing a good ventilation in damp subfloors, make sure downspouts and gutters are functioning properly so that water flows away from the home’s foundation, Keep sprinklers and hoses away from the home foundation.   
• Eliminate food sources; all areas should be kept free of food particles, typically surfaces that become contaminated with crumbs and other food particles include kitchen bench surfaces, shelves and drawers, floors, tables, chairs and so on, food utensils should be washed up soon after use and not left unwashed for long periods, bones and uncleaned pet feeding bowls should be removed.
• Keep your house clean. The state of hygiene and sanitation in and around buildings influences the likelihood of infestation by scavenging ants; vacuum, sweep and mop regularly, empty trash regularly. 
• Cut the shrubs and ivy off the wall of your home because the presence of sap-sucking insects on plants around a dwelling may serve to support and encourage various ant species.

 

   Housekeeper’s Pre-treatment Cooperation

• Open all curtains and close the windows.
• Wipe down counters, sweep floors, and clean up spills to reduce potential ant food sources and make baits more effective.
• Vacuum thoroughly to eliminate crumbs, even tiny crumbs you can’t see.
• Store food in pest-proof containers, or place it in the refrigerator.
• Cover or put all exposed food away.
• Cover food preparation surfaces or wipe them with a piece of wet soapy cloth after treatment.
• Remove or cover children’s toys.
• Cover baby’s crib or cot.
• Remove or cover pet’s feeding bowl, water bowl and sleeping bed.
• Cover fish bowls or tanks with a waterproof cover or a towel.
• Move furniture and appliances 10-15 cm away from the walls and treatment areas.
• Severe asthmatic people, infants, young kids and pregnant ladies must be vacated for 3 hours while treatment is carried out. 
• Take your pets out for a couple of hours while treatment is carried out.
• Every body’s recommended to vacate home, leaving ventilation on and get back home after a couple of hours when the chemical is dry.

 

After Treatment Care & Tips

• Be patient. Because baits do not immediately kill the ants, it can take time for the results to be obvious. Rest assured that baiting is one of the best ways to eliminate the entire nest of ants. 
• While the baits are taking effect, do not spray any insecticides or kill ants that you see, as they need to continue to feed to take the poison back to the colony.
• Avoid using strong cleaners near the ant bait. This would eliminate the ant pheromone trail that the ants are using to find the bait.
• Do not disturb ants that are heading to or away from the bait, or eating it. If ants are seen in areas where no bait has been placed, you can move a bait placement that the ants are not consuming over to this area. 
• Wipe down counters, sweep floors, and clean up spills to reduce potential ant food sources and make baits more effective.
• Store food in pest-proof containers, or place it in the refrigerator, as applicable.
• Vacuum and sweep regularly.
• Empty trash regularly.
• Wash dishes or run the dishwasher regularly.
• Never leave pet food sitting out after the pet has finished eating. 
• Rinse recyclables thoroughly, if you collect them in the house before taking them out. Store them in an ant-proof container until they are taken away to a recycling center.