Ants’ daily routines facilitate soil aeration and water and oxygen availability for plant roots; thus, ants are an essential part of nature.
What makes them a nuisance? When ants find food and water inside buildings and residences or when they build nests in gardens and yards, they become an issue.
A wide variety of foods and liquids attract ants, with different ant species having other preferences, mainly classified into sugar and protein feeders, which necessitate various treatment approaches.
Even in the absence of food, ants are drawn to water sources and search for water that may lead them into a building. Most species of scout ants use pheromone trails to guide other ants back to a food source they’ve discovered. As a result, giant ants quickly gather around the food of interest, resulting in a large infestation.
Additionally, ants have been known to infest electrical circuit boards, water heaters, and light fixtures, where they can cause thousands of dollars in repairs and increase the risk of electrical fires.
An ant colony in a house can be found in various places.
When heavy rain or extreme heat occurs, ants can relocate their nests into homes to protect themselves from the elements.
The majority of pest ant species will often build nests within walls, foundations, and indoor plants, as well as between fittings when they get inside. In most cases, ants do not cause structural damage to buildings and structures.
However, nesting by ants can cause soil to be dug up on lawns and gardens, around pots, and between pavers, resulting in an unappealing appearance and uneven and potentially dangerous surfaces. Some species can build nests with extensive tunnel systems below the soil’s surface, compromising the strength of retaining walls and interfering with drainage systems.
ant facts
The order Hymenoptera includes the Formicidae family, which includes ants. A bee or wasp is a member of the same family as this group of insects.
Ants are a common sight. More than 13,000 ant species and subspecies are known worldwide, with just over 1,300 of them found in Australia. Regardless of what kind of ant they are, most Australians are familiar with them.
bulldogs or bull ants, depending on your point of view (Myrmecia sp.)
Jumper ants, also known as jack-jumpers (Myrmecia pilosula species group)
Rhytidoponera Metallica, the green-headed or metallic pony ants
Carrion (Iridomyrmex species), sugar (Camponotus species), and green tree ants are among the ant species found worldwide (Oecophylla smaragdina sp.)
Bulldog, Meat, and Green ants all deliver a painful sting or bite, while the venom of Bull ants can induce a life-threatening allergic reaction in those who come into contact with it. Argentine, Red Imported Fire, and Crazy ants are considered environmental pests in Australia because they are not native.
An ant colony, in addition to being a nuisance to humans, can cause damage to the foundations of pavements, paving stones, and small buildings. Ants can cause electrical component damage and short circuits, and they can also spread viral, fungal, and bacterial plant diseases to other plants.
A group of social insects forms an ant colony. Depending on the species, they can number a few dozens to tens of thousands of individuals.
More than 15,000 ant species and subspecies have been identified across the globe, with the majority of these being found in Australia’s states and territories.
There are three social castes in a colony:
Fertile females or queens are wingless and sterile female workers.
The most common sightings are foraging workers, who are all sterile females. They resemble the queen in terms of appearance but are considerably smaller. Males tend to look like wasps.
Ants can range in length from 1 to 30 mm and can be any of the following colors: black, brown, red, yellow, or a mix of these.
Habits, behavior, and nesting locations differ significantly among species. While some are scavengers, many others are seed-eaters or predators, and their diets are as diverse as their habitats.
During certain times of the year, male and female birds are born with wings, and when the conditions are right, they leave the nest to engage in mating. Once they’ve mated, the queen eats her wings and starts a colony of her own. This female will never leave the depths of the earth to lay her eggs again. After mating, the male dies.
Make sure you get rid of the ants in your Sydney property
B2B Pest Control is an expert in the safe and Eco-friendly removal of ant infestations. Because we are a licensed and insured pest control company, you can count on us to get rid of your pest problems.
