Ant infestations on rise
Ant colonies are booming in Nelson Tasman, and it’s going to get worse, a pest controller warns.
Already the most prolific insect on earth, the Tasman District Council has warned that many households are facing ant infestations with white-footed house ants and Argentine ants the most common.
The infestations were likely due to a “very successful breeding season”, the council said.
Debug Nelson owner Shane Warland said they had noticed a surge in ant infestations, getting up to six call-outs a day.
“It’s going to get a lot worse,” he said.
A warm winter and hot summer had contributed to the booming populations, and it was likely they would continue to grow with another warmer winter, he said.
“We’re not getting the frosts we used to … that would really knock the insect world around, but it’s just not happening.”
As the weather got colder, and wetter, more ants would seek shelter in houses, he said.
“They want to get to higher ground, so they head indoors.”
Any food scraps or sticky patches on benches would attract ants, he said.
“Really, just keep the house as tidy as possible.”
DIY pest control options include putting baits outside, and using surface sprays around windows and doors to stop ants coming inside.
But, Warland warned that those sprays were only useful if all the ants were outside, because indoor ants would be trapped inside.
“You make your home into an ant nest.”
Ants could form large nests in walls and ceilings, which could become a fire risk, he said.
Old boxes and tarps were also popular places for ant nests to form.
When it got to the point of having large nests, store bought baits would no longer do the job and it was time to call in a professional, he said.
“If you’ve got a major ant problem, get it sorted sooner rather than later.”
The focus needed to be on knocking out the queen, he said.
“Once the queens are dead then your nest starts falling over, starts collapsing.”
Tasman District Council advised people to identify the type of ant to make sure you could get rid of it.
“If you place your hand over a trail of ants, argentine ants will continue crawling over it without hesitation, while white-footed house ants will scatter and flee,” the council posted on its website.
White footed ants were more likely to nest in walls and ceilings, and could form “satelite nests” if they sensed they were in danger.
“Successful control involves consistent baiting inside and outside which can take up to two years before total eradication is achieved.”
Argentines ants were more likely to nest outside and were “highly aggressive foragers with a strong preference for protein”, the council said.
For both ants, people should use multiple bait stations along foraging trails.
“Refresh liquid baits regularly to maintain their attractiveness and effectiveness. This method takes advantage of their social behaviour and grooming habits, allowing the poison to spread throughout the colony.”
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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