Ants

The banded sugar ant, also known as the sugar ant, is a species of ant endemic to Australia.

A member of the genus Camponotus in the subfamily Formicinae, Its common name refers to the ant’s liking for sugar and sweet food, as well as the distinctive orange-brown band that wraps around its gaster.

Sugar ants aren’t thought to carry diseases, the trouble is you don’t know where they’ve been foraging outside, so you won’t want them marching through your food cupboards. Also you don’t want to serve them to customers in food.

They live in a space that offers moisture as opposed to dry places.

The ant’s diet includes sweet secretions that are retrieved from aphids (plant lice) and other insects that it tends to feed on.

Signs of ant infestation include;

Seeing live ants; If you’re seeing large numbers of live insects then you may well have a problem
Ant pathways; Some types of ants will lay down a pheromone trail to a food source. This chemical attracts other ants to find the food
Ant nests which can look like a small pile of soil or dirt. Some species of ants like to make their home in walls or other quiet, dark places, which are more difficult to spot.

How to prevent infestation

Cover up any foodstuffs which could be a food source for ants.
Good housekeeping – clear up/clean any sticky residues on worktops, because ants are attracted to sweet things.
Physical /Mechanical means such as trapping using glue boards, pheromone pads, and vacuuming have been found to be effective.
Applying an insecticide according to label directions, sufficiently close to ants trails or nests.

Quality assurance tip

Always ask your pest control provider to provide an integrated pest management (IPM) plan for your property.

Health and safety tip

Track down where they are coming in and seal off the entry point

Good housekeeping – clear up/clean any sticky residues on worktops, because ants are attracted to sweet things

Environmental tip

Ants are known to be repelled by Vinegar, lemon or pepper – Non chemical practices in Ant control

Regulatory tip

Commercial pest control is regulated by Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries (MAAIF) and all pest controllers must have a license issued by MAAIF. Even though public health pest control is not regulated yet, MAAIF license may suffice.

Fun facts

Each colony can hold up to half a million ants. They can all get up and go very quickly if the colony is threatened.
Worker ants can live for up to seven years, while a queen can live for up to 15 years.
Ants swarm once every year in August.
The young queens fly away and set up their own, new colonies. If you hear people talking about flying ants, this is the swarm they are referring to.