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Spring is here – And so are the ants!

15 Sep 2016 | By Bug Busters

How can we Help?

Planning a picnic, BBQ or entertaining friends now that the sun has come out in Perth? Now that the warmer weather has set in, it’s inevitable that you’ll be seeing familiar trails of ants snacking on your crumbs or making a dash for the sweet drink spillages. Although ants do have an important role in our ecosystem in getting rid of other insect bodies and also becoming food to larger insects, they certainly don’t belong within the ‘ecosystem’ of your home or office. Here is some information about Australian ants and tips to ensure you’re protected this spring.

It’s a bug’s life

Ants are social creatures, forming colonies in our backyards, outside of businesses, and infiltrating to find the location of any sustenance. They do help with the natural environment by recycling soil nutrients and feeding on dead insects. However, in a domestic or commercial setting they can be very detrimental not only to your pantry or stock, but also to your reputation.

Ant colonies include a queen which lays eggs, workers to find food and maintain the ants nest, and soldiers which protect the colony. Ants will use a secretion to mark the pathways towards food. If you leave food out and you see ants carrying it away, it will be used to feed their larvae, the ants themselves will eat liquids only and feed off the regurgitation of other ants. Gross, we know!

What’s the damage?

Although small, ants can and do cause damage and injuries. Some ants will bite or sting you, resulting in painful marks and sometimes allergic reactions. Watch out for the Singapore Ant (slow, light brown ants) and Greenhead Ants (outdoor living, black-green coloured ants) for their painful bites in particular.

When it comes to physical damage, ants sometimes form nests in existing damaged timber (not new timber as termites do). The formation and weight of a nest can cause further damage to this type of structure.

The biggest damage by ants usually occurs to the food within the space they infiltrate. Once they get into something, that’s it! They will either eat it or break it apart for delivery to the nest.

Ants-be-gone tips

Once you see one ant, it’s safe to assume there are more where he came from. The colony will usually send out a scout to check out the food situation first, and then follow up with a trail of more ants to take it away. If you find yourself with an ant problem here are a few easy tips:

  1. Find how they are getting in, and seal the gap quickly. You can use Vaseline as a quick and temporary fix. Check window sills, in between bricks, doors, or foundations
  2. Find what has attracted them. This might be some unsealed food or a spilt drink, so make sure to seal it or throw it away, then clean the area to remove the ant secretion pathway
  3. Once the entry point is sealed and the attraction is gone, it’s time to treat the area or strategically place baits around to get rid of the colony and prevent them coming back

Effective ant pest control

If you have an ant problem, find they keep coming back, need a professional to step in, or would rather be safe than sorry with preventive measures, then Bug Busters are the right people to call.

At Bug Busters we’ll protect your Perth home or business against ant problems. We use safe and effective treatments and can also perform inspections for ants and other pests. Contact Bug Busters today on 08 9493 1313 or fill in in our online enquiry form to book a professional pest control visit today.

What our Clients say

We had an appointment scheduled very quickly and easily with Bug Busters. Aaron was on time and a true professional. He was knowledgable, open, and explained the whole process easily and clearly. Gave us a guarantee that our problems would be solved and if there were any future issues he would attend to them himself with the utmost expedience. Aaron was a real pleasure to work with and i feel significantly more comfortable after working with him. Would recommend their services to anyone who needed them.

Chey Bowers

I found the young man named Deryn who came to deal with our rodent problem to be extremely polite, personable and knowledgeable. He was on time and friendly and knew a lot about the behaviours of the rat species. I would highly recommend Bug busters and will definately them for future pest problems when they arise.

Sarah Garrett

Bugbusters installed termite traps around my house and shed many years ago. Every 3 months the traps are inspected for any termite activity. At intervals the house, ceiling and shed are are checked for termites. They have also dealt with wasp infestations and put rat baits in the ceiling.. Their operatives have always been helpful and friendly. I would recommend Bugbusters to anyone.

Margo Beilby

I have used Bug Busters on a number of occassions over the last 15 years. The last time only a few days ago.. Derryn was absolutely client focussed; professional; neat and cleaned up impeccably my jarrah floors that had just been re varnished. I have no hesitation to recommend this company.. Five stars from me. Paul Vic Park.

Paul Fernandez

Staff friendly and courteous and provide excellent customer service. Contractors efficient and knowledgeable and are always willing to provide extra assistance when required. Highly recommend this company for residential and commercial pest treatments.

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