Ants
Ants are insects that belong to in the order Hymenoptera, along with bees, and wasps. Scientists believe ants evolved from wasps about 100 million years ago. The earliest fossil ants have been found in North America amber, which has been dated at 94 million years old. These Annoying little pests can number in the hundreds of thousands.
There are about 40 species of ant found in New Zealand. Of the species found in New Zealand, only 11 are endemic (native to New Zealand) and 29 are introduced (accidentally brought to New Zealand). Ants form colonies and behave as social insects. Typically, an ant colony is composed of one or more wingless queens and many workers (wingless females). Winged queens and males are only produced in the reproductive stage when they fly from the nest, mate on the wing and then the males die, while the mated queens fly off to find a new nest site where they lose their wings and start laying eggs, which they care for. Not all species have this nuptial flight; some do not have winged forms and disperse on the ground. The first brood of eggs develop into the first workers and they then take over the care of further eggs and larvae from the queen while the queen’s job is now just to lay eggs.
How to get rid of ants in your home
Often it is a case of numbers management as the nest may not be on your property, Ants can be a particular nuisance when they get into your home. The trouble is you don’t know where they’ve been foraging outside, so you won’t want them marching through your food cupboards. Ants will travel in a wide range searching for food, following trails they have established and clustering around the source of food, becoming a nuisance in homes, organizations, and businesses. Small piles of earth around holes in the soil and at the base of exterior walls indicate their origin. It is important before getting in your Pest Control professional to make a note of where you see ants as often they are not visible at the time of treatment.
We apply five different products to initially kill as many as possible, create a barrier, and reduce their breeding ability, often with large infestations a further visit to set up gel bait is required within the first month, this is included in the initial cost.