Common signs of an ant problem

Signs of Ant Activity

Common signs include:

• Regular ant trails inside or outside the property

• Ants gathering around food, water or pet bowls

• Activity around cupboards, sinks and appliances

• Ants entering through cracks, windows or door frames

• Soil or debris appearing around small nesting holes

• Ant activity around paths, gardens and building edges

• Winged ants emerging from a nest

A few visible ants may be workers travelling from a much larger hidden colony.

Why do ants enter properties?

Why are ants entering your property?

Ants generally enter buildings while searching for food, water and shelter. They may be attracted by:

• Crumbs, grease and food residue

• Unsealed food and rubbish

• Pet food left out

• Leaking taps or plumbing

• Moisture around kitchens and bathrooms

• Honeydew-producing insects on garden plants

• Cracks and gaps around the building

Ants leave chemical trails that help other workers travel between the nest and a food or water source. This is why a small amount of activity can quickly develop into a noticeable trail.

Where ants may nest

Common Ant Nesting Areas

Depending on the species, ants may nest:

• Beneath paths, pavers and concrete edges

• In lawns, gardens and rockeries

• Around trees, stumps and plant roots

• Inside wall cavities and roof voids

• Behind cupboards and skirting boards

• Around window and door frames

• In decaying or moisture-affected timber

• Near plumbing and other damp areas

Finding and correctly treating the nest is often more effective than treating only the ants you can see.

Common pest ants

Black House Ants

Small, dark ants that commonly form trails into kitchens and other indoor areas. They may nest outside or inside wall cavities, ceilings and subfloor spaces.

Coastal Brown Ants

Light to dark brown ants that commonly nest around paths, rockeries, wall crevices and behind skirting boards. Colonies may contain numerous connected nesting holes.

Sugar Ants

Larger ants that are often active at night. They commonly nest outdoors in soil, around plant roots, beneath rocks or in decaying timber and may travel considerable distances while searching for food.

Argentine Ants

Small brown ants that form well-defined trails and may establish large networks of connected nests. They are often found around paths, lawns, trees and building edges.

Species identification matters because different ants have different nesting habits and may respond differently to treatments.

Why DIY spraying may not solve it

Why Do Ants Keep Coming Back?

Household sprays may kill the worker ants that are visible without reaching the nest and queens responsible for producing more ants.

Some species have multiple nests or queens, while inappropriate treatment can cause certain colonies to relocate or divide. Successful control requires identifying the activity and selecting a treatment that targets more than the visible trail.

Avoid spraying over ant trails before Elias attends, as seeing the ants’ natural travel route may help him locate their entry and nesting areas.

Professional treatment

How Pest In The West Can Help

We begin by inspecting the areas where ants are travelling, feeding and possibly nesting. Treatment is selected according to the species, location of the nest, severity of the activity and surrounding property conditions.

Depending on the situation, treatment may include:

• Professional ant baits

• Targeted crack-and-crevice treatments

• Treatment of accessible nesting areas

• External perimeter and entry-point treatments

• Treatment of suitable garden or paved areas

• Practical prevention recommendations

Ant baits work by allowing worker ants to carry the bait back towards the colony. Baiting can take time, and follow-up treatment may be recommended for persistent or widespread infestations.

Prevention advice

Helping to Reduce Ant Activity

You can help make the property less attractive to ants by:

• Cleaning crumbs, grease and spills promptly

• Keeping food in sealed containers

• Emptying and cleaning rubbish bins regularly

• Avoid leaving pet food out for extended periods

• Repairing leaking taps and pipes

• Sealing suitable cracks and entry gaps

• Trimming vegetation away from the building

• Addressing excessive moisture around the property

These measures can support professional treatment, although they may not eliminate an established colony on their own.