I've been in pest control for 12 years and I do every job myself. I'm licensed and insured (QBCC 15076438) and you get a fixed quote before any work starts.
Why ants keep coming back
Most people who call me about ants have already tried a surface spray or store-bought baits. The ants went quiet for a week, then came back.
Sprays kill the foragers you can see, but the queen and most workers stay safe in the nest. Some species respond to a threat by splitting into several smaller colonies, so you end up with more nests than you started with. And many ant nests are outside, under paths, in garden beds or inside wall cavities, well away from where you see them.
South East Queensland weather doesn't help. After heavy rain, ants often move indoors looking for dry spots and food, and in hot, dry spells they come in after water.
How I find and treat the nest
I start by watching where the ants are going. A trail across the kitchen bench often leads to a gap in the splashback, a power point, a window frame or a crack in the slab. From there I follow it outside, checking garden edges, pavers, the base of walls and around downpipes.
Once I know the species and where it's nesting, I choose the treatment:
- Ant baiting, where workers carry a slow-acting bait back to the nest and share it with the queen and young
- Direct nest treatment for nests I can find in soil, pavers or garden beds
- An external perimeter treatment around the house to cut off entry points
- Targeted treatment of wall voids, power points and gaps where ants are coming through
Bait needs time to work. If I've placed bait inside, please don't spray or wipe the ants feeding on it for a few days. They're doing the work for you.
Ant control is also part of my general pest control service, which treats cockroaches, spiders and silverfish at the same time and includes a 12-month internal warranty.
Ant treatment in Logan homes
Ant treatment in Logan often comes down to the yard. Many Logan suburbs have big yards, established gardens and slab-on-ground homes, and ants make use of all of them. When ants come up through slab edges, expansion joints and gaps around plumbing, treating those entry points along with the nests outside gives the best result.
- QBCC licence 15076438
- Termatrac iTracker
- 12-month internal warranty
- 12 years licensed
Common Brisbane ants
These are the ants most often found in homes around Brisbane and Logan.
Black ants in the house
Black house ants are small, shiny and black, and they're the ones that march in lines across kitchen benches. They like sugar and moisture and often nest in wall cavities, around window frames or in the garden close to the house. Black ants in house kitchens tend to be at their worst in the warmer months.
Coastal brown ants
Coastal brown ants are small and light brown, and they push up little piles of soil between pavers, along skirting boards and through cracks in the slab. They form big colonies with many queens, which is why spraying rarely works on them. Baiting and treating the soil around the house is the better approach.
Sugar ants
"Sugar ant" is a name used for several species, including the banded sugar ant. They forage at night, go for sweet food and spills, and are more nuisance than danger.
Ants nesting in timber
Some larger ants nest in damp or decayed timber, like old fence posts, window frames or rotting sleepers. If ants are coming out of timber, get it checked, because the moisture problem may need fixing too.
Fire ants are different
Fire ants need a different approach. They're an invasive species with legal reporting rules in Queensland, and disturbing a nest the wrong way can spread them.
Fire ants are a copper brown colour with a darker abdomen, and the workers come in mixed sizes in the same nest. Their nests are mounds or patches of loose soil with no obvious entry hole, usually in lawns, garden beds and along driveways. If you see ants like that, or ants that swarm up a stick and sting aggressively, don't treat them yourself with a household spray. Report them at fireants.org.au or on 13 22 68, then read my fire ant treatment page for what happens next.
What affects the cost of ant control
I don't publish set prices because ant problems vary a lot from home to home. The things that change the price are:
- The species of ant
- How many nests there are and where they are
- The size of the house and the yard
- Whether ants are inside walls, in the slab or only outside
- Ant control on its own, or as part of a general pest treatment
I'll ask a few questions, or have a look, then give you a fixed quote.
Ant control questions
How long does ant baiting take to work?
You'll often see more ants for the first day or two as they find the bait and recruit others to it. Activity should drop noticeably within about a week as the bait reaches the nest. Large colonies with several queens can take longer.
Why are there suddenly ants in my house after rain?
Heavy rain floods nests in the soil, so ants move up and inside looking for dry ground and food. Treating the nests outside and the entry points around the house cuts down how often this happens.
Should I spray the ants while the bait is working?
No. Spraying kills the workers carrying bait back to the nest and can make some species split into new colonies. Leave them alone for a few days and let the bait do its work.
Are the ants in my kitchen nesting inside the walls?
Sometimes. Black house ants and coastal brown ants will nest in wall cavities, under slabs and behind skirting boards. Following the trail usually shows whether the nest is inside or out in the garden.
Is ant treatment safe for my pets?
Baits go where pets can't reach them, and outside treated areas should be kept pet-free until dry.
Can you treat ants in a unit or townhouse?
Yes. In units, ants often come from shared garden beds or neighbouring units, so it can help if the body corporate treats the common areas at the same time.
How do I keep ants out after treatment?
Wipe up sugary spills and crumbs, store food in sealed containers, fix leaking taps and keep garden mulch and plants from touching the walls of the house. Sealing gaps around pipes and window frames helps too.
What if I think I have fire ants?
Don't disturb the nest or spray it. Report it at fireants.org.au or on 13 22 68, then see my fire ant treatment page for how they're handled.
Book ant control in Brisbane or Logan
If ants keep finding their way inside, I'll find where they're coming from and treat the source. Call me on 0412 205 586 or request a quote online for ant control in Brisbane, Logan and nearby suburbs. After hours, send a text to 0412 205 586 with the best time to call back.