The ants, one of the most successful species on Earth, have spread to almost every continent and have adapted to live in all settings with the exception of the ice fields of Antarctica.
The Earth's whole animal biomass is made up of around 15% to 25% of the more than 12,500 species that have been recognised. They thus belong to the group of animals that are most prolific on Earth.
Researchers believe that the ants' success as a species, which diverged from ancient wasps over 120 million years ago, is due to their exceptionally well-formed social organisation, incredible flexibility, and highly evolved survival instincts.
The ants are important to nature, much like other insects. The organisms recycle decomposing organic matter, ventilate the soil, devour other insects, and pollinate plants. The ants become an issue when they take over our dwellings.
Ants find everything they need in human homes, including food, water, and shelter, which serves as a draw for foraging ants.
Defend your home now from ants by searching for ‘ant control specialist Brisbane’ or ‘ants pest control brisbane/near me’. But if you are hard set on dealing with them on your own, you should take a closer look at the below list of issues that different ants present in your home.
Pavement Ants
Damages
All ants have the potential to become a pain, but pavement ants excel at it. They are prevalent inside and outside of built-up areas. Our houses' common spaces, garages, and garbage cans are all frequent entry points for them. They scurry across our meals and countertops. And because of their vast numbers, they may overpower homes once they are inside. To be fair to pavement ants, though, they aren't as bothersome as stinky house ants. When threatened or crushed, odorous house ants can release a foul odour if their colonies increase close to a house or, worse, inside a house.
Odorous House Ants
Food Contamination
While all ants have the potential to contaminate food when they enter a house, odorous house ants are particularly renowned for doing so. This is not because they are more attracted to food than other ants or because they are dirtier than other ants, but rather because of their opportunistic nesting habits. These ants will build nests just about any place.
They nest easily within your pantry or in a wall close to a food cabinet. And before they contaminate your food items, they won't hesitate to wander around in your kitchen rubbish can.
Odorous house ants are mechanical carriers of dangerous germs, much like many other types of ants. They have a connection to the transmission of germs including E. coli, streptococcus, Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and others.
Although pavement ants and carpenter ants can contaminate food, this is considerably less likely given their habits. There are several benefits for these ants to being outside.
Pavement ants are drawn to building their nests in the ground, particularly under rocks, stepping stones, pathways, foundation slabs, and in the cracks of pavement and sidewalks; as a result, they are just temporary intrusions and not a steadfast resident.
Carpenter ants can nest inside, but they can find a lot more food outside, thus they rarely invade kitchens and pantries for food, but it does occasionally happen.
Carpenter Ants
Property Damage
The majority of ants that invade a residence don't harm the structure in any way. Ants often pose a health concern or annoyance rather than a danger to our dwellings. Carpenter ants, on the other hand, are an exception to that rule. These ants burrow into wood to create their nests and build their colonies there.
If they discover wood in your home that is suited for their purposes, they won't think twice about using it. Carpenter ants have no concept of house equity, and they surely have no regard for yours. They won't hesitate to harm your house!
Carpenter ants are attracted to the chilly, damp regions of our homes, such as the bathrooms, the areas beneath the kitchen sink, the crawl spaces, and other wet places. These ants will benefit from any moisture problems or water damage that your property may have. They start by focusing on rotting timber.
Carpenter ants take time to perform damage, therefore it doesn't happen instantly. Significant harm might take years to occur. Additionally, the harm they create is hard to repair. If you notice these ants in your house, it's a good idea to take care of the issue straight away by calling in a dependable expert!
Types of Damages Caused By Ants
Damage to Home
The same as termites, ants may inflict significant harm. The main distinction between them is that termites consume the wood, whilst ants cause harm to it. The furniture in a house suffers significant damage from carpenter ants. Hollowing out the household furnishings are carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants crawl through the wood, causing damage. The presence of wood peeling close to the entrance or windows may indicate a carpenter ant infestation.
Health Hazard
Ants are often not harmful. Ant bites are not particularly hazardous and only occur when they feel threatened. Ant bites often cause very little pain and irritation. However, if the bites are not cleaned, they might get infected, thus care or cleaning is required.
However, some ant species, including fire ants, are very hazardous and pose health dangers. Unlike the other ants, they sting. With their stings, fire ants inject poison into human bodies. These stings are excruciatingly unpleasant and might have significant consequences. Fire ants can pose a serious threat to human life.
Irritation, discomfort, redness, and itching are a few frequent side effects of fire ant stings. While severe causes might include vomiting, nausea, dizziness, diarrhoea, and chest discomfort.
Ant Management
It is very difficult to manage ants using DIY ant control, and secondary issues, including pest control chemicals getting into stored goods or direct contact with control agents, frequently arise with DIY ant control approaches. Even more frequently, do-it-yourself ant control results in lost time and money.
It may be utterly ineffectual to use the incorrect ant control solution for the kind of ants you're seeking to eradicate. On the other hand, if you apply a product that is very effective in eliminating ants upon contact, your ant problem can get worse.
Nest budding, a process by which a colony divides into more than one colony in reaction to a perceived threat, might result from using these goods.
Are you having issues with ants? Ask for assistance from experts! At Action Pest Control, we use highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals who are familiar with the behaviours and habitats of the pests we deal with in the locality, including ants, as well as the most cutting-edge and reliable techniques for identifying and eradicating ant colonies. Successful ant control can be done only by professionals. Hence, you need to search for ‘local ants pest control brisbane’ or ‘ant control Brisbane/near me’ the minute you see ants around your home.
Ant Prevention
Most pests, including ants, enter your home looking for food. If you have seen ants and are concerned that you may have an infestation, relax. It's fortunate that you learned sooner since ant control will be simple with early treatment.
The myth that bugs cannot exist in a clean environment is untrue. However, along with the food, an unsanitary atmosphere does entice them to your home. They are typically seen in the kitchen because of this. So the first thing you should do is maintain your home clutter-free.
- Keep your doors tidy.
- Get rid of the food crumbs.
- Clean the kitchen platform and sweep the floor often.
- Cover the food appropriately, block the access point, and keep the food in airtight containers.
Hope this blog helps you to tackle any issue at your home. But if it doesn’t, do call us for help.
