- Risk level
- Medium
- Peak season
- Spring & summer, especially before rain
- Where you’ll find them
- Kitchens, bathrooms, paths and garden edges
- DIY?
- Partial — baits help, sprays usually don’t
Overview
Ants follow scent trails into homes looking for sugar, protein and water. Spraying the trail kills a handful of workers but leaves the queen and the nest untouched — which is why ants keep coming back.
How to identify ants
Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)
Small, light-to-dark brown and a serious invasive pest in Melbourne. Forms huge multi-queen “super colonies” and travels in thick trails indoors.
Black house ant (Ochetellus spp.)
Small, shiny black ants that nest in wall cavities, around window frames and under paving.
Coastal brown ant (Pheidole megacephala)
Pushes up small piles of soil through paving joints. Has “big-headed” soldier ants.
Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.)
Large ants that nest in damp or decaying timber. Don’t eat wood but can indicate a moisture problem.
Bull ants & jack jumpers (Myrmecia spp.)
Large, aggressive ants with a painful sting that can trigger allergic reactions. Usually in bushland-edge yards.
Signs you have a problem
- Trails of ants along benches, skirting boards and windowsills
- Small mounds of soil between pavers or along driveways
- Ants appearing in power points or electrical switches
- Swarms of winged ants in warm weather
Why it matters
- Contaminate food and pantry items
- Some species damage electrical equipment and garden irrigation
- Stings from bull ants and jack jumpers can cause anaphylaxis in sensitive people
How we treat ants
- 1
Identify the species
Different ants prefer different baits — sugar, protein or oil — so we identify the species before choosing a treatment.
- 2
Non-repellent perimeter
A non-repellent treatment is applied to the outside of the building. Ants don’t detect it, carry it back and share it with the colony.
- 3
Targeted baiting
Baits are placed on active trails inside and out to reach the queen(s).
- 4
Nest treatment
Visible nests in lawns, paving and garden beds are treated directly.
Prevention tips you can do today
- Wipe up sugary spills, crumbs and pet food quickly
- Trim plants and branches touching the house — they’re ant bridges
- Seal cracks around window frames and where pipes enter walls
- Avoid spraying trails yourself before our visit — it disrupts baiting