Darwin Ants

Darwin Ants are small (2-3mm) dark brown ants that have become established in New Zealand as far south as Christchurch. They are pests of our homes, shops and other buildings but there is little evidence yet that they are a threat to New Zealand’s natural ecosystems. Darwin Ant distribution is rapidly expanding and they may form 'supercolonies' in a similar way to Argentine Ants; with many nests part of the same colony and workers from one nest moving freely from one to another; cooperating. Darwin's Ant came to NZ from Darwin in Australia and has found the environment in NZ to its liking with few competing insects and predators. In NZ it forms much larger colonies than in its native Australia. It can be distinguished from a similar looking Argentine Ant by:

• pungent smell when squashed
• single file trails (Argentine ants will have a trail many ants wide like a 'motorway')

How to get rid of Darwin Ants

Identification is vitally important to control ants, as the methods must be tailored to the ant species involved. Incorrect control methods may only serve to exacerbate the problem as in spraying an Argentine ant colony with insecticide before carrying out baiting and using barriers to stop spread.

Because of the ‘hidden’ locations of nests, ants can be difficult to control. Nests can often be located outside, under slabs, tarmac or concrete, with little or no evidence of their presence. The entrance to a nest can be established by leaving some fine breadcrumbs where you see ants. One can then follow the ants as they carry the crumbs back to their nest. Treatment at the entrance alone is rarely successful and treatment of a nest site may encourage multi-queened colonies (Argentine and Darwin's) to disperse and spread infestation to surrounding sites.

Folow the instructions you will find here.

See also Argentine Ants and White Footed Ants.