Let’s face it! Ants as pests can be very annoying. When they get into your home or office, they spoil food and other items. If you let them, they will climb up your body and make your skin crawl. Ants look harmless, but they are a threat to health and property. If you are looking for a safe way to get rid of ants, this guide will help you do that. In Brisbane, there are different ant species. If you need help, many experts specialize in local ants pest control in Brisbane. The following tactics from Brisbane’s finest pest expert will keep you informed on the best ways to get rid of ants on your property.
How do ants work?
Ants follow a defined work pattern that affects their behaviour. These pests can be found in large groups where there are designated responsibilities to different ranks. If you know how the ants behave, you will be able to understand how to solve the problem.
Are ants harmful?
Professionals who carry out ants pest control in Brisbane have warned that ants are not harmful. However, this does not mean that they are harmless pests either. Some ants bite and sting – thereby causing serious allergies and pain. This is why you want to treat all ants the same way – eliminate them immediately. Some ants carry germs, while others can spoil your food.
All about ant species
When it comes to ants all over the world, there are more than 12,000 different species. While most of these species live in outdoor areas, only a few want to live with us in our houses and offices. When it comes to ants in properties, there are some obvious species to look out for. These are:
• Pharaoh ants
• Pavement ants
• Odorous house ants
• Carpenter ants
If there are ants in your house and you can’t identify the species, you can look up “ants pest control near me.” This will help you get the right company that will help you identify the species as well as plan a thorough removal strategy.
A look inside a colony of ants
Ants are social insects that do not live alone. They would rather live out in groups and have ranks where they play specific roles. Each ant colony have well-defined roles for the workers, the queen, the males, and the soldiers. Each run of ant plays a unique role which is important to the colony. If you are looking for an ant nest in your home, it can be found either outdoors or inside the house. Then again, you can check for these near damp areas which can be close to a food source.
The typical life cycle of an ant
Wonder how ants take a lot less time to show up in your house? Each ant undergoes four stages of development. Called the ant life cycle, these are the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. There is a certain time needed for the ant to develop from the egg stage to the adult phase. However, this depends mainly on the environment and the type of ant species.
Do you have an ant infestation in your house?
If there are ants in your house, it is important to get rid of them easily. You can easily hire any ant control company in Brisbane to help you with spotting them. Removing these pests on time can help you prevent further infestations which can be bigger and more harmful. Looking to spot ant infestations in your house? Check for these signs:
Ant trails
If you have ant trails in your house, this can be a sign of a large infestation. The worker ants usually go about looking for food in your house. If they spot a food source, they will leave a scent trail to alert all other members of the colony. Before you know it, you have a trail of ants moving to and from the food source. Ants usually build this trail between the food source and their nests.
Damage to your plants and wood
If there are carpenter ants in your house, you will notice by checking the wood in it. These ants carve out the wood to make their nests. This can cause a lot of harm in the house. You can find these ants in rotting or damp wood. In the same way, some ants can hurt plants as they search for their food.
Strange behaviours among pets
If you see your pets behaving strangely by scratching their faces and bodies, you may want to hit “find ant specialist near me” on your browser. This sign from your pets shows that you may have a serious case of ant infestation on your property. Pets spot ants easily and can start behaving erratically if the insects get out of control. You should take this as a sign to call expert ant specialists in Brisbane.
Anthills
Ants are prolific workers that can build large anthills (massive heaps of soils) overnight. If you spot this in your house, then you have a serious ant problem. The insects usually build anthills using sand or soil very close to their nest. They usually build outdoor nests around lawns, gardens, or close-your-house foundations.
An expert guide to getting rid of ants
In Brisbane, there are several recommended ways of getting rid of ants in your house. Experts recommend combining both chemical and natural ways to remove the ants. Whether they are indoors or outdoors, any of the following methods can work pretty well:
When it comes to fighting ants, you do not always have to use harsh chemicals. In this case, you may rely on using natural methods such as:
Diatomaceous earth
This is a natural remedy that can be used to fight ants in your properties. It works by cutting the outer shells of the ants and drying them out. Spread this material very close to the ant nest around all entry points, machines, and cupboards.
Vinegar solution
If you have vinegar at home, you can mix this with water to eliminate all the ants on your property. Prepare the solution and use it around any location where you find ant trails – target doors and windows with this solution. The smell of vinegar usually disrupts their scent paths causing them to flee in different directions as they are unable to communicate properly with each other.
Essential oils
Essential oils can help you fight off ants. These oils have scents that can drive off the ants from your house. Examples of essential oils include lemon eucalyptus, tea tree, and peppermint. Get a simple spray bottle of water and add s few oil drops to it. Apply this mixture around any areas where you are likely to find the ants.
Lemon
Just like the vinegar solution, you can rely on lemon juice to break off ant scent paths. Get a spray bottle and equally mix water and lemon juice. Apply this to any location where the ants are likely to be. This will keep the ants away. Similarly, use lemon peels close to all entry points for the ant. The strong lemon smell will repel the ants and they will never come back to your house.
