Ant Treatments and Ant Control Approaches

Ants and How Best to Control Them:

Ants are a common household nuisance, much like in many parts of New Zealand. Effective ant treatment requires understanding their behaviour and tailoring your approach to the specific species, if possible, although general strategies work for most common pest ants.

Common Ant Species in New Zealand

While there are many ant species, the most troublesome introduced pest ants in New Zealand include:

• Argentine Ant (Linepithema humile): A significant pest. They are small (2-3mm), light brown, and form supercolonies with multiple queens, making them very difficult to control. They move in well-defined trails and will readily invade homes for food and water.
• Black House Ant (Ochetellus glaber): A nuisance pest, often found trailing into homes.
• White-footed House Ant (Technomyrmex jocosus): Another common invader, often seen on house walls seeking food and water.
• Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis): Small (2mm), yellowish-brown, and can be particularly challenging. They form many small colonies (budding) and are often found in warm, humid areas like kitchens. They are known to be difficult to eradicate and require specific baiting strategies.
• Southern Ant (Monomorium antarcticum): This is one of the most common native ants, found throughout NZ. While native, they can still become a nuisance indoors.

Understanding Ant Behaviour for Treatment

Ants are social insects. When you see ants foraging in your home, they are typically worker ants from a larger colony (nest) located elsewhere. Their goal is to find food and bring it back to the nest to feed the queen(s) and larvae. Simply spraying the ants you see will only kill a small percentage of the workers and won't eliminate the colony, leading to the problem quickly returning.

To get lasting control, you need to kill the queen(s) and destroy the nest.

Treatment Methods for Ants

A combination of good hygiene and targeted pest control methods is usually most effective.

1. Hygiene and Prevention (Essential First Steps):

This is crucial for long-term ant control. Ants are attracted to food, water, and shelter.

• Cleanliness:
• Wipe down kitchen benches, tables, and floors immediately after use, removing crumbs and spills.
• Store all food, including pet food, in sealed, airtight containers.
• Empty rubbish bins frequently and ensure they have tight-fitting lids.
• Clean up pet food bowls as soon as pets have finished eating.
• Rinse out recycling containers before placing them in the bin.
• Moisture Control:
• Fix any leaky taps, pipes, or drains.
• Ensure good ventilation, particularly in damp areas like under sinks, in laundries, and sub-floor spaces.
• Eliminate Entry Points & Shelter:
• Seal cracks and crevices in foundations, walls, around windows and doors, and where pipes enter the house. Ants can fit through tiny gaps.
• Trim trees and shrubs away from the house, as ants can use branches as bridges to access your home.
• Remove potential outdoor nesting sites near your home, such as piles of wood, bricks, or leaf litter.

2. DIY Treatment (for minor to moderate infestations):

DIY methods can be effective, especially if you can identify ant trails and potential nest locations.

• Ant Baits (Most Effective DIY Method):
• How they work: Baits contain a slow-acting insecticide mixed with an attractive food source (sugar or protein, depending on the ant species' preference). Worker ants take the bait back to the nest, sharing it with the queen(s) and larvae, eventually killing the entire colony. This is the best way to get to the source of the problem.
• Types:
• Gel Baits: Common for indoor use. Place small dots or lines of gel along ant trails, near entry points, and in areas where you've seen ant activity (e.g., behind appliances, under sinks, in cupboards).
• Granular Baits/Ant Sand: Designed for outdoor use on lawns, paths, and paving. They can kill nests and create a barrier.
• Important Tips for Baiting:
• Don't spray other insecticides while baiting, as this will kill foraging ants before they can take the bait back to the nest.
• Place baits near trails, but not directly on a trail, so ants encounter it naturally.
• Use enough bait. Ants can consume a lot. Replenish as needed until ant activity significantly decreases or stops.
• Be patient. Baits are slow-acting and can take several days to a few weeks to eliminate a colony.
• Try different baits if one isn't working. Ants' food preferences can change, and some species (like Pharaoh ants) are notoriously picky and may require specific protein-based baits or sprays. PESTSTOP has a variety of “Ant Gel Baits" (protein bait) to offer. Those can be for all ants or even specific.  This are highly effective for many species, including Argentine and Pharaoh ants.
• Insecticidal Sprays (Residual):
• How they work: These sprays leave a chemical residue that kills ants on contact or when they crawl over the treated surface. They can create a barrier.
• Application: Spray around entry points (windows, doors, cracks), along skirting boards, under appliances, and around the exterior perimeter of your home (foundations, around doors/windows, paths).
• Limitations: While useful for killing ants you see and for creating barriers, sprays generally don't eliminate the nest unless you can directly spray the nest. They don't provide the long-term colony elimination that baits offer. Using them directly on trails where you've placed baits will hinder the baiting process.
• Ant Dusts:
• How they work: Insecticidal dusts can be puffed into cracks, crevices, wall voids, and other hidden areas where ants may be nesting or trailing. The dust adheres to the ants' bodies and is carried back to the nest.
• Application: Use a duster to apply a very fine, invisible layer.
• Caution: Wear a mask and gloves, and ensure dust is not placed where it can be inhaled by people or pets.
• Natural Repellents:
• Diatomaceous Earth (DE) from PestStop: A natural powder made from fossilized algae. It kills ants by scratching their exoskeletons and dehydrating them. Sprinkle a fine layer in ant-prone areas. It's safe for pets and humans once settled but wear a mask when applying.
• Vinegar Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray directly on ants to kill them on contact or use to wipe down surfaces to disrupt pheromone trails (ants dislike the scent). This acts as a deterrent, not a killer.
• Essential Oils: Peppermint, tea tree, lemon eucalyptus, and citronella oils diluted in water can be sprayed as repellents. Ants dislike strong smells.
• Cinnamon/Pepper: Sprinkling these spices can create barriers that ants are reluctant to cross.

3. Professional Pest Control (Highly Recommended for Persistent or Large Infestations):

For large infestations, especially with aggressive species like Argentine ants or the hard-to-eradicate Pharaoh ants, professional help is often the most effective and efficient solution.

• Expert Identification: Professionals can accurately identify the ant species, which helps in choosing the most effective treatment.
• Targeted Treatments: They use commercial-grade baits, residual sprays, and dusts that are more potent and have a longer residual effect than DIY products. They also have tools to access hard-to-reach nesting sites.
• Colony Elimination Strategies: Professionals focus on eliminating the entire colony, including the queen(s), using strategies like sequential baiting (switching bait types if needed) and applying insect growth regulators (IGRs) that disrupt the ants' lifecycle.
• Exterior Barrier Treatments: They can apply robust exterior barrier treatments to prevent ants from entering your home.
• Ongoing Management: For persistent problems, they may offer ongoing service plans.
• Safety: Qualified technicians are trained in safe application methods, minimizing risks to your family and pets.
• Warranties: Many professional services offer guarantees for their work.

Cost of Professional Ant Control:

Prices can vary based on the size of your property, the severity and type of infestation, and the number of treatments required.

• General ant treatment for a typical 3-bedroom house in New Zealand often ranges from $160 to $250+ GST for the initial treatment.
• More complex infestations, such as those with Argentine ants or Pharaoh ants, might be more expensive due to the need for specific baits and follow-up treatments. For example, some companies quote for Argentine Ant or White-footed Ant service with a 6-month guarantee.

It's always recommended to contact a few local pest control companies in Rotorua for a specific quote after they assess your situation.

When contacting a professional, ask about their approach to ant control (e.g., reliance on baits vs. sprays), the chemicals they use, safety considerations, and whether follow-up treatments or guarantees are included.