Over 12,000 different species of ants exist around the globe, did you know? It’s enough to send shivers down your spine! There are 1,200 different ant species in Australia.
Ants might be a bothersome house guest, but they also seriously harm Australia’s agricultural sector. Do you have an ant invasion in your home? Do you want to know what kind of ants you have and how to get rid of them from your house?
Continue to read to learn what types of ants might be in your home.
Side note: We have always advised people to call professionals for such pest control needs. Hence, before doing anything, it would be better if you search for a ‘local ant treatment company brisbane’ to hire an expert.
But before you do that, let’s look at some of the common species you may find in your Brisbane home.
Black House Ants (Ochetellus)
One of the ant species that are most frequently seen. These ants are completely black in colour and range in length from 2.5 to 3 mm. Typically, they will break into homes in quest of food and refuge, making any leftover food or unwashed dishes fair game for them.
Behaviour: Black ants are capable of creating nests in practically any place. For instance, there could be fractures in the foundation, next to stone walkways, or even underneath the entire house.
Lifespan: It takes black ants about 44 days to mature from a larva to a fully grown adult. However, this is dependent on the weather and the availability of food.
Fire Ants (Solenopsis SPP)
Except for the abdomen, which is darker, the fire ant’s body is primarily a light brown colour. The queen of fire ants measures 1.59 cm in length, and worker fire ants range in length from 3.18 to 6.35 mm, making them slightly larger than other ants on this list.
Behaviour: The common location of fire ant nest mounds is near things on the ground. A mass of rocks or logs, for example. If given the opportunity, these mounds can grow as high as 40 cm. Fire ants can sting painfully when provoked, just like bull ants can. They also provide solenopsin, poisonous alkaloid venom, which can cause a powerful burning sensation and even an allergic reaction.
Lifecycle: The queen of fire ants searches for a suitable location to lay her eggs after mating with the men during a swarm. Following mating, male fire ants die. In the late spring, queen fire ants can deposit up to 125 eggs. The larvae hatch in about 8 to 10 days, and the subsequent pupal stage lasts between 9 and 16 days.
If you have pets and/or children at home, Google ‘ants pest control brisbane‘ as soon as possible Because fire ants are very aggressive and their bite sting very much, you need to be more careful about them.
Argentine Ants (IridomyrmexHumilis)
Argentine ants are tiny, 1.6mm in length, dark brown to medium brown coloured ants.
Behaviour: Interestingly, argentine ants have a reputation for being aggressive toward other ant species and have even been observed to drive native ants out of their established colonies. Additionally, argentine ants don’t swarm out in the open to breed; instead, they do it in their nest, making it challenging to spot them early.
Lifecycle: Most worker argentine ants mate in the spring, which results in a slow increase in population up until the fall. This is because they have numerous queens, which enables them to procreate and grow quickly.
Bull Ants (Mymecia)
Bull ants are among the most aggressive Australian ant species. When disturbed, they will swarm on the intrusive object or person and sting it painfully. They can inflict several stings as needed because the stinger doesn’t stay on their target.
Behaviour: Bull ants often build their nests outdoors, such as near dirt, heaps of logs and rocks, close-by plants, and the building’s foundation. In general, the queen bull ant is in charge of food gathering, which she frequently does at night.
Lifecycle: The queen bull ant will dig a tiny chamber for her eggs to be buried in when she needs to build a nest. Bull ants normally go through their entire life cycle, from egg to larvae to pupa to adult. Bull ants are typically born female.
Search for ‘ant control Brisbane’ or ‘ants pest control near me’ as soon as you find ants in or around your property because they can be quite dangerous.
So there you have it, these are the most common ant species you may or may not find on your property, if you live in Brisbane, Australia. If you do find them, you should take quick action to remove them from your property. Call us, we’ll help with that.
