While most ant outbreaks can be easily treated, certain types of ants require more targeted or aggressive solutions as they behave differently.

For example, some ant species like Pharoah and Argentine ants can multiply fast andcreate several nests, so they require long-term treatment to prevent sustained attacks. On the other hand, bull ants are known for their painful bites and carpenter ants build their nests in wooden house frames, so you’ll want to prevente an outbreak fast.

However, without special training, it can certainly be challenging to try and identify which species of ant is causing problems around your home or business.

The earlier you figure out which species of ant is the culprit, the faster that the outbreak can be treated, and any potential damage and disruption can be minimised. That’s where professional pest control can make a big difference.

As aggressive defenders of their nests, fire ants aren’t afraid to sting to defend their colony if provoked. These painful stings can swell into welts within 24-48 hours and trigger allergic reactions.

They build distinct nest mounds which can stand over 40cm high above their underground chambers.

Fire ants have a characteristic antennae club, bright copper head and dark brown body. Workers grow between 3.18-6.15mm and queens are 1.59cm long.

Larvae take 16 days to mature.

They feast on dead insects, vertebrates and earthworms, as well as sweets, fatty food and proteins.

Producing a unique coconut smell when crushed, odorous house ants are attracted to places with moisture. However, you’ll also find them lurking around house plants and toilet lids.

They are usually brown or black in colour with 6 legs and antennae with 12 segments.

Odorous house ants grow between 1.59-3.18mm long and take 34-38 days to become adults.

They feed on pet food, sweet foods and fruits, particularly melon.

With their strong jaws, carpenter ants chew through wooden structures and objects, leaving behind wood shavings, also known as frass. They can cause significant structural damage to buildings and trees, and build satellite nests in different areas.

Carpenter ants are usually dark brown, orange or black coloured, with 6 legs and 2 antennae. They range from 3-12mm long, depending on their job classification within the colony.

Workers take 60 days to become adults.

They enjoy feeding on honeydew produced by aphids, dead insects and pantry food items.

If you’ve disturbed a bull ant nest, watch out! They can be very aggressive and secrete venom through their painful bites. With excellent eyesight, they prefer to hide away in areas with dense vegetation, nesting under logs and rocks.

They are red to black coloured and can grow up to 40mm in size. Eggs take 3-4 months hatch and mature into adults.

They collect plant nectar and other plant juices as well as animal prey.

At Allstate, our technicians are highly trained to identify different types of ant species that require specific treatment modalities. This means that you won’t need to worry about getting to the root cause of the outbreak yourself, and you can expect that it will be treated as quickly as possible.

We’re available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide to treat infestations in residential, commercial and industrial settings. Using modern technology and innovative treatments that are safe for people, pets and the environment, we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and competitive warranties on all our services.

With payment plans available, there is no need to delay having an ant extermination through Allstate.

As they are unable to regulate their own body temperatures, ants will slow down during winter to hibernate. They prefer to look for a place that is warm, such as your home, to take shelter during winter.

Once the mercury starts to rise in spring, ants will once again become active. They’ll be hungry and start foraging for food as they need to increase their energy levels to work, resume their reproductive cycle and scout for new areas to expand their colony.

This means that once the weather warms up, you may see many ants start to emerge around your home and yard, seemingly out of nowhere.

There are many reasons why you’d want to prevent an ant outbreak this spring. Here’s why:

Ants contaminate food and spread disease

As expert foragers, ants are no strangers to germs. Whether it’s rubbish, pet droppings or rotten food, ants encounter a wide range of germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. These can lead to illnesses such as salmonella and e.coli poisoning.

Ant bites

Besides a sharp pain, ant bites can also trigger allergies in some people which can appear as skin rashes, swelling and even anaphylaxis.

Ant outbreaks can happen quickly

A small trail of ants can multiply fast as they attract fellow ants to feeding sites through pheromones.

Carpenter ants can damage buildings

With the ability to chew through wood and build nests inside, carpenter ants can cause major structural damage to walls, panels, floorboards and beams.

Damage to electrical wiring

You may experience electricity disruptions due to ants crawling into wall sockets and chewing through wiring, resulting in a fire hazard.

Fire ants cause damage in the garden

With an appetite for vegetables such as corn, red potatoes and cucumber seedlings, fire ants will eat your food before it has a chance to make it to the dinner table.

Since ant outbreaks can escalate quickly, we recommend calling in an expert to minimise disruption to your home or business. Bear in mind that most treatments will require a period of time before you notice a visible reduction in the number of ants.

An Allstate pest control technician will begin with an initial assessment of the outbreak and locate all potential nesting sites indoors and outdoors.

We’ll then use one or more of the following treatment options, depending on the extent of the problem:

Ant control dust

This is sprinkled into hard-to-reach places such as wall cavities and roof voids.

Insecticide

We apply this to the perimeter of the buildings in treated zones.

Chemical baits

Positioned at feeding sites, the toxic compounds that are ingested by the ants are carried back to the nest to destroy the population.

We’ll replenish the treatment and review its progress as needed to make sure that the outbreak is well and truly under control.