Argentine Ants in Perth – Identification, Risks & Control

How to Identify Argentine Ants

Argentine ants are often mistaken for other common household ants, but there are a few specific traits to look for.

Appearance:

• Size: 2.2 to 2.8 mm long — relatively small and uniform across all workers

• Colour: Light brown to dark brown, with a slight sheen

• Body shape: Slender with an unevenly rounded thorax and one petiole segment between thorax and abdomen

• Antennae: 12 segments, no terminal club

• Odour: Unlike some ants, they do not emit a strong smell when crushed

Behavioural Clues:

• Form long, dense trails along skirting boards, plumbing lines, garden edges, or countertops

• Move quickly and in organised lines, especially near food or water sources

• Frequently found in humid environments, especially in kitchens and bathrooms

Tip: If you spot ants that are uniform in size and seem to coordinate in large groups, you’re likely dealing with Argentine ants.

Behaviour & Nesting Habits

What sets Argentine ants apart is their ability to form supercolonies — vast interconnected colonies with multiple queens. This makes them incredibly difficult to eliminate through conventional means.

Key Behaviours:

• Extremely social and cooperative across colonies, allowing them to spread rapidly

• Prefer sweet foods but will consume proteins and fats as well

• Travel along predictable, visible foraging trails

• Highly aggressive toward other native or competing ant species

• Sensitive to environmental conditions, often moving nests during heat, rain, or drought

Nesting Sites:

• Under soil, mulch, rocks, or logs

• Inside wall cavities, roof voids, and insulation

• Around plumbing fixtures, floorboards, and skirting

• Beneath concrete slabs or pavers

• Occasionally inside electrical boxes and appliances

Argentine ants often nest close to moisture, which is why they’re commonly found near kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoor taps.

Why They’re a Problem in Perth

Despite their small size, Argentine ants present significant problems once they invade a property — especially because of how quickly their colonies grow.

Key Issues They Cause:

• Massive infestations: With multiple queens in one colony, reproduction is constant. This allows them to spread faster than most species.

• Food contamination: Argentine ants can invade food storage areas in search of sugary substances, contaminating food with bacteria from unsanitary environments.

• Displacement of native species: These ants aggressively attack other ants, insects, and even lizards, disrupting natural ecosystems around homes and gardens.

• Invasive persistence: Once inside, they’re difficult to remove. Even a few remaining queens can restart an entire colony.

DIY sprays often make the issue worse by scattering the colony and encouraging budding (colony splitting).

Why DIY Ant Control Rarely Works

Argentine ants are uniquely resistant to standard pest control products found in supermarkets. Their behaviours and biology make them a challenge for untrained homeowners.

Why DIY Usually Fails:

Result: The infestation may look gone for a few days… but the ants almost always return in greater numbers.

How We Control Argentine Ants at Enviro Pest Control Perth

At Enviro Pest Control, we use a targeted and species-specific approach to eliminate Argentine ants — not just suppress their activity.

Our 4-Step Argentine Ant Treatment Plan:

1. Inspection

We identify nesting areas, food sources, colony trails, and entry points. Argentine ants often have multiple nests across the same property.

2. Baiting with Non-Repellent Products

We use professional-grade ant baits that ants carry back to the colony, targeting the entire population — including queens. This breaks the reproductive cycle.

3. Barrier & Perimeter Treatments

We apply non-repellent liquid treatments along baseboards, exterior walls, entry points, and nesting zones. These are slow-acting to ensure ants unknowingly transfer it back to the colony.

4. Ongoing Monitoring & Prevention

We schedule a follow-up to assess effectiveness, reapply treatments if necessary, and help seal common entry points.

All treatments are:

• Family and pet safe

• Eco-conscious

• Backed by our satisfaction guarantee

How to Prevent Argentine Ants

Once treated, it’s important to maintain a pest-resistant environment. Argentine ants will return if they find favourable conditions again.

Prevention Checklist:

• Seal cracks and crevices in walls, foundations, and window frames

• Store food in airtight containers, especially sweets and cereals

• Wipe down benches, tables, and kitchen floors daily

• Repair leaking taps, showers, and plumbing

• Don’t leave pet food out overnight

• Empty indoor bins regularly and keep lids sealed

• Trim vegetation touching your home — ants often use these as bridges

• Inspect garden mulch and compost for early signs of ant activity