THE DREADED ANTS
Welcome to our section on ants in Alice Springs. 
In case you don't know, Alice Springs is built on a giant ants nest, or so it seems!!
We have more ants and more varieties than anywhere I know. It's not all bad news though.
We will concentrate on the main culprits starting with:
THE BIG HEADED ANT
This very small ant is an import from South Africa and is related to the Fire ant, Singapore ant and other species. It is easily recognised by its soldier ant which has a very large head. (Hence big headed ant) The problem sometimes is that the soldiers are scarce. (About every 50 to 100 ants). They are taking over Alice Springs in large numbers. It wasn't long ago that only Larapinta, Golf course estate, Gillen and Araluen were the effected areas. Now they are almost everywhere including Ilparpa, Ross Highway area and everywhere in between.
HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM??
They are very small, often ginger or dark in colour with the telltale soldier head being larger than the rest. They LOVE water. As a result you will find them in your sink, kettle, bath, under pot plants, around drippers and sprinklers in gardens and anywhere there is a water source. I have even been told by clients that they showed up in wet washing in the laundry basket, a glass of water next to the bed and even in one lady's hair after she washed it but went to bed whilst is was still wet!!! Another common one is they kick up the sand between pavers and along the edge of buildings where the concrete path meets the house/unit.
TREATMENT
Don't panic!! We have a granule which is specifically designed to treat this ant with 100% eradication within 48 hours. (More often 24 hours) They take the granule back to their nest and that's all she wrote. We realise of course that if you have them then your neighbours will. As a result we give you some extra granule (At no extra cost to you) as part of our treatment which will last you 12 months.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DOWNLOAD A POSTER ON THIS ANT SHOWING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND AREAS THAT YOU WILL FIND IT:
PLEASE CLICK HERE (pdf file)
