There are a million ants for every person on earth and together weigh more than all the people!

The ants we see are only about two percent of the total number in the nest. Ants are social insects and develop more or less permanent nests and a hierarchical caste system, whereby individual ants are responsible for specific duties. These are workers, which are sterile females; drones, which are fertile males, and queens.

The ants you see are workers, foraging from the nest for food. They travel along well defined trails, using landmarks and scent trails. You'll see them in the garden, going to and from plants where they farm plant-sucking pests such as aphids and scales. The ants provide the bugs with protection from predators in exchange for the honeydew they secrete. You'll see them in the kitchen, going to and from the sugar bowl or jam jar, trailing up the wall and disappearing through cracks in the wall.

Ants cause serious destabilisation and damage when they excavate around and under concrete paths or cobblestones, causing cracks and subsidence.

Further Identification:

There are around 40 established species of ants in New Zealand. To the untrained eye and without the aid of a lens to see the anatomical differences, many of these are difficult to tell apart. Below we have listed the ants most commonly found as a pest in your house and their characteristics to enable you to identify them.

The White Footed House Ant - (Technomyrmex albipes) is a primary pest ant. A black ant around 2.5 mm - 3 mm with the last segment of the leg being pale coloured. They are the most problematic structural invading ant pest in the world. They commonly nest indoors behind the kitchen cupboards, skirtings, wall and ceiling cavities. They are general feeders, eating meats (pet foods) and sweets (jams) but probably prefer sweets.

This ant produces that typical unpleasant musty odour in the house it infests, due to the formic acid released from their bodies. This odour is evident when they are crushed. Nests may have many queens, a high reproductive capacity and a readiness to relcoate nests to potentially more suitable situations which explains its success in colonising houses.

The Argentine Ant - (Linepithema humile) has only recently established itself in the North Island, Nelson and Christchurch. It is prevalent in most central areas of Auckland and is spreading rapidly to other suburbs. 1.5 mm - 3 mm in size, they are light brown to brown in colour and trail in populous columns. They are readily identifiable as they will walk over your hand if placed on the trail or will swarm if their nest is disturbed. These ants will often bite and are a huge threat to the environment. They damage trees and kill native invertebrates endangering certain species. No formic acid odour is evident when crushed. They often nest in exposed soil or under cover in rotting logs, retaining walls, gardens and pot plants. The Argentine ant often moves indoors in wet weather and prefers to eat meats, insects, seeds, fruit and honeydew from plant sucking insects. This ant is a native of South America and is the most successful scavenging ant that is a pest to man.

It will drive other ants from the area and rapidly builds up large numbers sufficent to become a huge nuisance.

The Coastal Brown Ant - (Pheidole rugosula) is well established in Eastern Bays and Beach areas; 1.25 mm - 2.5 mm in size, light yellowish brown to red-brown in colour and commonly nests in building structures, in crevices in brickwork, wall cavities, skirting and architraves. Has major (soldier) and minor workers. The Coastal Brown Ant prefers dead insects, meat particles and fat.

The Forceps Ant - (Iridomyrmex anceps) A large greyish ant around 2 mm -3.5 mm, it is found primarily outside nesting against paths, in rockeries and under cobblestones. It is responsible for excavations and the resulting piles of dirt between cobbles and pavers. Recognisable as it is fast moving and seemingly erratic in the direction it takes. The forceps ant does not form distinct trails, unless they have found a sizeable food source.

Ant Control - HELPFUL HINTS

• Clean up thoroughly after cleaning and eliminate all food sources. Keep all sweet items and spreads in the fridge.
• Wash out all recycling items and clean bins regularly. Situate bins away from the house.
• Keep plants pruned so that they do not touch the house. Don’t grow creepers on your house.
• Use plants that do not attract aphids and scale.
• Have stone or gravel gardens directly around the house rather than conventional bark which ants prefer.
• Seal up gaps and cracks to stop ants entering.
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