Ant Control Perth
There is more than just one type of ant species that you may find throughout your home or business. However, Black Ants and Coastal Brown Ants are two of the most common types of ants we provide pest treatment and control services for.
These insects have developed a caste system where individuals are responsible for specialised duties within the community. There are workers (sterile female); fertile males; and queens (fertile females). The workers build and extend the nest, look after larval forms and forage for food. Meanwhile, the Queens remain almost exclusively in the nest.
An active insect, black ants nest outdoors, in ceiling and under paving. Foraging worker ants cause a nuisance indoors as they travel widely in search of food, following well defined trails and clustering around the food source. They are not only an unpleasant sight but can damage food used for human consumption. Black ants can, however, be beneficial as predators of other insects.
Coastal Brown Ant
These ants nest mainly in the soil and build along pathways, in gardens, against walls, under houses and, if in large enough numbers, can cause damage to lawns. They prefer sunny, dry areas to nest but will nest above ground if soil is unavailable. They can also be found nesting in termite tracks and have been known to invade external electrical appliances such as hot water systems. Coastal brown ants have a preference for fatty foods but will attack seeds, meats, insects, fruit, honeydew from aphids, sweet foods, fats and grease. Adults cannot ingest solid food particles but will ingest liquids which are pressed out of food material. The larvae are entirely dependent on workers for food. While young larvae are fed in liquids, the older larvae are fed on small food particles which they can ingest. Coastal brown ants can be vectors of disease organisms such as dysentery, smallpox and bacteria such as Salmonella.