The way to get rid of ants for good is to kill the colony, and the colony is almost never where you see the ants. The trail across your kitchen counter is a supply line from a nest in a wall, under paving or in a flower bed. Baits that the workers carry home are what reach the queen and the young. That's the core of how we treat ants in Kariega, and it's also why so many sprays seem to work for a day and then fail.
Why Kariega gets so many ant calls in summer
Kariega sits inland, and its summers are hotter and drier than on the coast. When the soil dries out, ant colonies have to go further for moisture as well as food. That's why many Kariega ant problems start in the bathroom or around the kitchen sink, not just the sugar bowl. A dripping tap, a shower drain, a damp patch under a leaking geyser or a dog's water bowl will draw ants inside even from a spotless house.
Rain does the opposite. After a heavy summer storm, flooded nests push ants indoors in large numbers, sometimes overnight. Either way, the cause is outside, and so is the solution.
The ants we see most
- Small brown house ants that form long, tidy trails to sweet food and water and often nest in wall cavities, under tiles and in electrical boxes.
- Ants that push soil up between paving, leaving little heaps of sand on patios and driveways and sometimes undermining pavers.
- Larger black garden ants that farm aphids and scale on plants and trees, and wander indoors in the warmest months.
Different ants prefer different baits, some sweet and some protein or fat based, so knowing which one you have makes a difference. A photo on WhatsApp helps.
How we treat
- Follow the trail. We trace the ants back to where they come in and, where possible, to the nest.
- Bait the colony. Ant bait goes on and next to active trails. Workers take it back and share it through the nest.
- Treat the perimeter. An odourless, non-staining residual treatment around the outside of the house, along paving joints and at entry points stops new trails from forming.
- Fix the draw. We point out the leaks, damp spots and food sources pulling the ants in.
You can stay home during treatment. Pets and children should keep off the treated paving and skirtings until the spray is dry.
Ants in workplaces
Ants are a regular nuisance in factory canteens, staff kitchens and offices, where food is eaten at desks and break rooms have kettles, sinks and fridges. They also get into electrical panels and switchgear, which is more than a nuisance. On industrial sites we include ant control in the scheduled service, treating around buildings and in staff areas before trails become a problem.
Signs it's more than a few stray ants
- The same trail appearing every day at about the same time
- Ants coming out of a plug point, light switch or crack in the tiles
- Small sand heaps on paving or along the bottom of a wall
- Winged ants indoors, which means a mature nest is close by
A Kariega tip
In the hottest months, lift your pets' water bowl onto a paved area away from the back door, and stand it in a slightly larger shallow dish of water. The moat stops ants from reaching the bowl, and moving it from the doorway stops it pulling a trail into the house.
The common mistake
Spraying the trail with a household insecticide. It kills the workers you can see, but the colony survives. With some species, disturbing the nest causes it to split into several smaller colonies, so you end up with more trails than before. Use bait, or leave the trail alone until we've baited it.
What does it cost?
It depends on the size of the property, how many colonies are involved, which species it is and whether a perimeter treatment is needed. For a small trail to one cupboard, a good shop-bought ant bait placed on the trail may be enough, and that's worth trying first. Persistent ants, ants in electrics or several colonies around a house need a proper treatment. We'll quote after an inspection.
Ants often share kitchens with cockroaches; see our page on Kariega cockroach control, or our full Kariega pest control page. For more on how colonies work, read our ant control guide. We also deal with ant problems all over Port Elizabeth and ants in Despatch gardens and homes.
Call 087 012 5550, or WhatsApp us a photo of the ants and the trail, and we'll tell you what you're dealing with.
Questions we get asked
Why are ants in my bathroom and not my kitchen?
In dry weather ants often look for water rather than food. Bathrooms, showers and leaking pipes are a common target in Kariega summers.
How long does ant bait take to work?
Usually a few days to a week. You may see more ants at first while they feed on the bait and carry it back.
Can ants damage electrical equipment?
Yes. Some ants nest in plug points, switches and electrical boxes, which can cause faults. Those need careful treatment.
Are ant treatments safe around pets?
Yes, when used properly. Keep pets off treated surfaces until they're dry, and baits are placed where pets can't easily reach them.
Why did ants appear overnight after rain?
Heavy rain floods nests and pushes the ants upward and indoors. The trails usually ease once the ground drains, but baiting stops a repeat.
Do you treat ants in factory canteens and offices?
Yes. We treat staff kitchens, canteens and office break rooms, often as part of a regular service.