{"id":11729,"date":"2020-08-23T06:13:19","date_gmt":"2020-08-22T20:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/?page_id=11729"},"modified":"2025-05-19T16:09:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T06:09:48","slug":"ants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/","title":{"rendered":"Pest Ants in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"11729\" class=\"elementor elementor-11729\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-56cb4df1 elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"56cb4df1\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-18455064\" data-id=\"18455064\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2293f8f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2293f8f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pest Ants in New Zealand<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6717e8d4 elementor-hidden-mobile\" data-id=\"6717e8d4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253d783f elementor-align-right elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"253d783f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-near-me\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-map-marker-alt\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Find a pest control company<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d1c7fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d1c7fd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4fd9d23\" data-id=\"4fd9d23\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bea070 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"2bea070\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-87400da elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"87400da\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1ab397\" data-id=\"d1ab397\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-93a6952 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"93a6952\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ef4eae\" data-id=\"6ef4eae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7724df1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7724df1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CONTENTS:<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e18961f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e18961f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>\u00a0<\/h3><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#peststatus\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pest Status<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health and safety<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#types\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Types of ants<\/span><\/a><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#black\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black ants<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#brown\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brown ants<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#invasive\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Invasive ants<\/span><\/a><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><a href=\"#rifa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fire ants<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#id\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ant Identification<\/span><\/a><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#lifecycle\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life-Cycle<\/span><\/a><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#antnests\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ant Nests<\/span><\/a> \/ Colony<\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#behaviour\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key behaviours<\/span><\/a><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#bites\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ant Bites<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#getridofants\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to get rid of ants?<\/span><\/a><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#products\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ant products<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#products\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do ant baits work?<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#prevent\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to prevent an ant infestation?<\/span><\/a><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#AntFAQ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ant Control Frequently asked questions (FAQ)<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5a0dbd9\" data-id=\"5a0dbd9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-692f09a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"692f09a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PEST SNAPSHOT - ANTS<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9651614 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9651614\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"248\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Black-ant-tyrant-ant.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-39033\" alt=\"Pest ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Black-ant-tyrant-ant.jpg 600w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Black-ant-tyrant-ant-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Black-ant-tyrant-ant-310x128.jpg 310w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Black-ant-tyrant-ant-150x62.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-866f62f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"866f62f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><b>Class: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insecta<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Order: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hymenoptera (related to wasps and bees)<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Family: <em>Formicidae<\/em><\/b><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health threat: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generally low<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bite \/ sting pain:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Varies depending on species from no sting to severe pain<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Difficulty to control: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenging<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Diet: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Honeydew \/ insects \/ seeds, depending on species<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Main pest season: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summer \/ Autumn<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indoor\/Outdoor pest: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5582cad elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5582cad\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-458fa93\" data-id=\"458fa93\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3485da77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3485da77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Ants are eusocial insects and belong to the Family Formicidae. They are related to bees and wasps, and all belong to the order Hymenoptera.<\/li><li>There are more than 12,000 species worldwide. New Zealand has remarkably few ant species &#8211; only around 40 species have been identified. (In Australia nearly 1,300 have been identified).<\/li><li>Ants are considered one of the most difficult crawling insect pests to control.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b912a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0b912a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pest Status<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-58b96d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"58b96d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Although the majority of species are not considered pests, the reputation of the main pest ant species has resulted in ants being considered to be the number one global crawling insect pest.<\/p><p>Controlling ants is a challenge, due their sheer numbers and the nest\/colony structure \u2013 to get lasting control you need to kill the nest, targeting the queen(s) as they are the colony&#8217;s egg production unit.<\/p><p>In the domestic situation, they are more of a nuisance, causing food spoilage and stinging\/biting homeowners and pets. However, activity in and around electrical wiring is a known cause of house fires.<\/p><p>In commercial situations, they can be a problem in food handling establishments and certain horticultural and agricultural areas.<\/p><p>Perhaps their most significant impact is as environmental pests. Of the world\u2019s top 100 invasive species, five are ants; <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/argentine-ant\/\">Argentine ant<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/african-big-headed-ant\/\">big-headed ant<\/a>, crazy ant, little fire ant and <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/red-imported-fire-ant\/\">red imported fire ant<\/a>. These species have been transported around the world by humans and quickly invade new areas, decimating the local ecosystems.<\/p><p>In New Zealand, Argentine ants are a major problem, big-headed ants are present in warmer areas and there are a few spots where crazy ants have been identified.<\/p><p>Fortunately, fire ants are not present in New Zealand.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-873b091 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"873b091\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Health &amp; Safety<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae2e75e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ae2e75e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ants getting into food in homes and businesses is more of a nuisance and issue of contamination, as they are not known to spread disease. However, contamination is a serious issue for food management businesses, as no-one wants ants in their food!\u00a0<\/p><p>However, a couple of ant species do deliver very painful stings, which hurt at the time and can itch for days afterwards. For some people, they can cause allergic reactions which sometimes result in anaphylactic shock which requires urgent medical intervention.\u00a0<\/p><p>It is important to note that although ants bite (grab on to you with their jaws), it is their sting that hurts. The sting is a needle organ that is thrust out from their abdomen and injects the venom.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/green-head-ant\/\">Green-head ants<\/a> are one of the most common stinging ants in residential areas and are commonly found nesting in lawns. Originally from Australia, they are found in an increasing number of areas on the North Island. Although their bites are considered \u2018only\u2019 moderately painful, their sting area can itch for days afterwards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-54d8af2d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"54d8af2d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-685258f1\" data-id=\"685258f1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d260d05 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d260d05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Types of ants<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eaf33a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eaf33a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are only around 40 species of ants in New Zealand, so with a bit of practice it is possible to identify most ants in New Zealand. It is not particularly scientific, but for many people it is easy to use colour to help distinguish the different types of ants. Here we group the main pest ants in to either black ants or brown ants.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-273a6f6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"273a6f6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Black Ants <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-77f3bcc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"77f3bcc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-14dbf0b8\" data-id=\"14dbf0b8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b60839d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3b60839d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/black-house-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Black-house-ant-ochetellus1j.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11288\" alt=\"black house ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Black-house-ant-ochetellus1j.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Black-house-ant-ochetellus1j-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Black-house-ant-ochetellus1j-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Black-house-ant-ochetellus1j-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Black-house-ant-ochetellus1j-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39d5f313 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"39d5f313\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/black-house-ant\/\">Black House Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-475da4e\" data-id=\"475da4e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e6bd2ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7e6bd2ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/green-head-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Green-head-ant-metallica4j.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11343\" alt=\"green head ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Green-head-ant-metallica4j.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Green-head-ant-metallica4j-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Green-head-ant-metallica4j-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Green-head-ant-metallica4j-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Green-head-ant-metallica4j-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d93200f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1d93200f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/green-head-ant\/\">Green Head Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-75066205\" data-id=\"75066205\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32264f16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"32264f16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/tyrant-ants\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tyrant-ant-iridomyrmex10.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11344\" alt=\"Tyrant ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tyrant-ant-iridomyrmex10.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tyrant-ant-iridomyrmex10-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tyrant-ant-iridomyrmex10-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tyrant-ant-iridomyrmex10-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Tyrant-ant-iridomyrmex10-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62245a75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"62245a75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/tyrant-ants\/\">Tyrant Ants<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-23fbef2e\" data-id=\"23fbef2e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43db687e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"43db687e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/white-footed-house-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11345\" alt=\"white footed ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis3.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis3-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis3-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/white-footed-house-ant-difficilis3-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34c5ce15 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"34c5ce15\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/white-footed-house-ant\/\">White Footed House Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-565b739b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"565b739b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-679747e\" data-id=\"679747e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-608b884e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"608b884e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Brown Ants<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1137cbb7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1137cbb7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-814ec31\" data-id=\"814ec31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1088192 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1088192\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/argentine-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-humile46j.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11346\" alt=\"Argentine ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-humile46j.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-humile46j-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-humile46j-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-humile46j-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-humile46j-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0442052 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0442052\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/argentine-ant\/\">Argentine Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-427a4476\" data-id=\"427a4476\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27be8b52 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"27be8b52\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/african-big-headed-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Big-headed-ant-megacephala1j.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11347\" alt=\"Big headed ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Big-headed-ant-megacephala1j.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Big-headed-ant-megacephala1j-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Big-headed-ant-megacephala1j-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Big-headed-ant-megacephala1j-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Big-headed-ant-megacephala1j-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49da6446 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"49da6446\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/african-big-headed-ant\/\">Big Headed Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f16d0de\" data-id=\"f16d0de\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77cc1bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"77cc1bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/pharaoh-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"266\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pharaonis7-thumbnail.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-17098\" alt=\"Pharaoh ant thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pharaonis7-thumbnail.jpeg 266w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pharaonis7-thumbnail-251x190.jpeg 251w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pharaonis7-thumbnail-139x105.jpeg 139w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b62a17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7b62a17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/pharaoh-ant\/\">Pharaoh Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-25 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-28281b1\" data-id=\"28281b1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-434a7280 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"434a7280\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/red-imported-fire-ant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Red-imported-fire-ant-invicta5n.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11349\" alt=\"fire ants\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Red-imported-fire-ant-invicta5n.jpg 400w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Red-imported-fire-ant-invicta5n-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Red-imported-fire-ant-invicta5n-267x200.jpg 267w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Red-imported-fire-ant-invicta5n-253x190.jpg 253w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Red-imported-fire-ant-invicta5n-140x105.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71580bf3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"71580bf3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/red-imported-fire-ant\/\">Red Imported Fire Ant<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-36e0a67 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36e0a67\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d196dc\" data-id=\"3d196dc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-07e604f\" data-id=\"07e604f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-62392ad\" data-id=\"62392ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e6c725f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e6c725f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f602e08\" data-id=\"f602e08\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f53dd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f53dd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ant Identification<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-cad2420 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cad2420\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d1c526\" data-id=\"2d1c526\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8606a7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8606a7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Working out what type of ant you are looking at is difficult. Identification is very challenging due to their small size.<\/p><p>Successful identification uses size, colour, head &amp; jaw shape and the petiole number and shape. (The petiole is the connection between the thorax and abdomen).<\/p><p>For most homeowners, starting off as to whether it is a black or brown ant is the normal starting point, and that&#8217;s how we&#8217;ve grouped the species on this page.<\/p><p>If you can catch or kill an individual and look under a magnifying glass you can compare to one of the images above. Click on one of the images above to get additional information to confirm identification.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-606e996\" data-id=\"606e996\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ca8601 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0ca8601\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"591\" height=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-39035\" alt=\"Ant identification by looking at petiole\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole.jpeg 591w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole-190x190.jpeg 190w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-identification-Petiole-105x105.jpeg 105w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The petiole joins the thorax to the abdomen. Ants have either 1 or 2 two nodes on their petiole depending on the species<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b07cd1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5b07cd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-456f3ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"456f3ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Life-Cycle<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15e8415 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15e8415\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ants are social insects, with different castes having different roles within the colony. The queen is the most important caste in the nest as she lays all the eggs. They go through a complete metamorphosis which means after hatching they develop through a number of larval stages before passing through a pupal stage to become an adult.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0d1868 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a0d1868\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"873\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-1024x873.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-39034\" alt=\"Ant life cycle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-1024x873.png 1024w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-300x256.png 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-768x655.png 768w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-1536x1310.png 1536w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-2048x1746.png 2048w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-235x200.png 235w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-223x190.png 223w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Ant-life-cycle-123x105.png 123w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df5cdf9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"df5cdf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2341\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2341\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Ant Eggs<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2341\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2341\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eggs are small white \/ translucent and oval shaped. They are often stuck to each other in clumps.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2342\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2342\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Ant Larvae<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2342\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2342\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Larvae look like small, segmented maggots, typically white \/ translucent or cream in colour. They are not particularly mobile and if they need to move they will be carried by workers.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2343\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2343\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Ant Pupae<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2343\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2343\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pupae are typically cream, oval shaped sacs a bit larger than the adults. These are often assumed to be ant eggs to the untrained eye, but they are a lot bigger.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2344\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2344\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Worker Ants<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2344\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2344\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All workers are female. They will often have different roles within the nest, such as looking after the nursery (eggs and larvae), excavating the nest, defending the colony or foraging. Typically, they change their roles as they become older \u2013 with the older individuals taking on the foraging responsibilities. Workers can live between 1-3 years, depending on the species.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2345\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2345\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Soldier ants<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2345\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2345\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some species have a specialised soldier caste. Typically, they will be larger than workers often with larger heads \/ jaws. If a species does not have a soldier caste, the defensive responsibilities of the colony are carried out by the workers.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2346\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2346\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Flying Ants<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2346\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2346\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Flying ants or alates, are the winged reproductives \u2013 the new kings and queens that leave the nest to mate and start new colonies. These reproductives leave the nest in large numbers as part of a nuptial flight, which takes place in late spring and early summer on hot, humid days. They mate in the air and lose they wings shortly after landing. The males die and the queens move off to find a suitable location to start a new nest.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some species, additional female reproductives (without wings) are produced. They support the egg laying of the original queen when the colony gets beyond a certain size or the original queen dies. Such reproductives can also start new nests through the process of budding, when they leave the original nest with a small amount of brood and workers to set up a new nest nearby.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2347\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2347\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Queen Ants<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2347\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2347\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The queen ant is the most important ant in the colony as she lays the eggs. Sometimes there are multiple queens or reproductives in the same colony. To kill the nest it is necessary to kill the queen or all the queens in the colony, so that the colony loses its egg laying capacity. The queen is the most long-lived individual in the colony and can live for over 20 years.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d8a3e3 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"5d8a3e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-192bb58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"192bb58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ant Nests \/ Colony<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcb9cc4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fcb9cc4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A nest is a single entity, but a colony may consist of one or more nests. Different species have different colony structures, varying in the number of nests and queens in the colony. There are three general nest structures:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Single nest, single queen (monodomous, monogyne)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Single nest, multiple queens (monodomous, polygyne)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multiple nests, multiple queens (polydomous, polygene)<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The serious pest species \u2013 the invasive ants \u2013 have a multiple nest, multiple queen colony structure, and it is one of the reasons why they are so successful in invading new areas. Their high reproductive rate allows them to spread rapidly and dominate areas. Over time they can create \u201csuper colonies\u201d spread over hundreds of kilometres. This makes it virtually impossible to eradicate invasive ant species from a specific area, as even if they are eliminated from a defined area, they will re-invade from surrounding areas.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the nest \/ colony structure and likely nesting sites for the ant species causing a pest control problem is essential understanding in deciding on the appropriate ant treatment.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-751bbd0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"751bbd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56606ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56606ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Key Behaviours<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cd9866 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7cd9866\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ants are social insects and display a wide range of amazing and complex behaviours.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From a control point of view, understanding their foraging behaviour and food preferences is important information when deciding on which ant bait to uses in a control program, where to place the ant bait and how much bait to apply.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[Phil to check if there is an article on ant bait application? If not write one]<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to food, foragers are able to remember good and bad for weeks, even after a single exposure \u2013\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/ants-have-long-term-food-memory\/\"><b>ants have a long-term food memory<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd6f627 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"cd6f627\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-502e5fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"502e5fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ant Bites<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce89b83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce89b83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although generically called \u201cant bites\u201d, some species bite, some ants sting and some can do both. Strictly speaking a bite occurs when the ant closes its jaws on the skin and sting is when an individual injects venom from its stinger at the end of its abdomen. It\u2019s the sting that has the potential to cause the most pain. The venom contains a number of chemicals including proteins. It is these proteins that can cause the severe allergic reactions when stung by some species, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/green-head-ant\/\">green-head ant<\/a>, which can result in a long-lasting itching afterwards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most stings, applying ice to the affected area provides some relief, but for those that suffer severe allergic reactions or experience multiple stings, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-365e737 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"365e737\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a4a11e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4a4a11e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to get rid of ants...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73a8f26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73a8f26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most homeowners find it tempting to try and rid of an ant problem with a bit of DIY pest control, but find it frustrating that they often don&#8217;t succeed. Often this is because spraying the ants only kills the ones you can see &#8211; there are plenty of other ants back in the nest which can replace them and so the problem quickly returns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professional pest managers succeed where homeowners generally fail in eliminating ant problems, as they can access a range of specialist ant control products that are not available to the general public. Combined with their ability to identify the species causing the problem and their knowledge of their nest structure and behaviour, they can design a suitable treatment program.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, their treatment will depend on the species and location of the problem, for example<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ants in the house<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lawn ants<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ants in pavers<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For ants in the house the primary objective is to eliminate them out of the house and prevent them re-entering the building. For ants in the lawn it is important to kill the nests. For ants digging up pavers a strategy of killing the nest or excluding the ants from the area works well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3>Ant Products<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pest managers will normally use a combination of products to get on top of an ant problem. They will often use sprays to keep the ants out of the house or treat a particular area and baits to eliminate the nest. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They use specialist ant sprays to treat areas and around the perimeter of buildings. Sometimes they use repellent sprays which create a &#8220;barrier&#8221; to prevent entry, sometimes they will use specialist non-repellent sprays. These non-repellent sprays are designed to kill ants that walk over the treated area. In addition they are relatively slow acting (which is a good thing!). This allows the ants that walk over the treated surface pick up some of the insecticide on their body and pass it on to they nest mates during normal contact, therefore magnifying the effect of the treatment.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(For the really technical, you may ask the question about whether insecticide resistance is an issue in ants, making some products less effective? Although insecticide resistance can be an issue with bed bugs and German cockroaches, there is little evidence of\u00a0insecticide resistance in ants.)<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes when treating large areas, instead of using sprays, pest managers will use insecticide granules (not baits, but insecticide treated sand). These are often used when dealing with <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/african-big-headed-ant\/\">coastal brown ants<\/a>.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get lasting control it is important to kill the nest or nests causing the problem, which means killing the queen or queens, as\u00a0 they are producing all the eggs. If you can&#8217;t find the nest to destroy it physically or through spraying, you need to use ant baits. Although ant baits will kill the nest causing the problem, it won&#8217;t stop new ants moving into the area in the future.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cases of severe infestations pest managers may need to make more than one visit. If you live in an area infested with one of the invasive species, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/argentine-ant\/\">Argentine ant<\/a>, it is likely you will need regular treatments to keep them under control. For other treatments, the pest managers will often guarantee they will eliminate the problem and offer a warranty or service free period against further ant problems for a set duration.<\/span><\/p><h3>How ant baits work?<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get lasting protection from ants is it necessary to eliminate the nest. To do this you need to kill the queen or queens in the nest, as they produce all the eggs. If you don&#8217;t kill the queens, the queen can always product more workers to replace any you kill and the nest will recover. The best way to go about eliminating an ant nest is to use baits.<\/span><\/p><p>Ant baits\u00a0consist of an attractive food source and slow acting insecticides. Ants feed on the bait, take it back to the nest and feed it to other members of the nest, including the queen(s). It needs to be slow acting so that it can passed around the nest before the ant realise it&#8217;s not good for them. By the time they do, it&#8217;s too late. As long as enough bait is applied relative to the size of the nest, small nests should be eliminated in 1-3 days and larger nests within 1-2 weeks. However, one of the tricks in successful ant bait treatments is choosing the best bait for the ant species of concern, as typically different ant species like different food sources &#8211; sugar, protein or oil\/fat.\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When dealing with invasive ants, although baits are very successful in eliminating individual nests, the problem is that there are often a large number of nests in an area, all part of the same colony. Therefore, when dealing with invasive species which may infest large areas and have multiple nests as part of the same colony, it is often necessary to use a combination of sprays and baits\u2026 and also require regular re-treatment to keep the numbers down (as complete elimination is often impossible).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccee133 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"ccee133\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24304cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"24304cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Prevent an Ant Infestation?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3825863 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3825863\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s not much you can do to prevent an outdoor ant problem (other than get a professional treatment), but a few of the standard pest prevention techniques will minimise the chances of them becoming a problem indoors.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good hygiene is critical<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">clean away split food and dirty dishes straight away<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ensure rubbish is put in secure containers<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">don\u2019t leave pet food in bowls on the ground<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep food in sealed containers<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seal any small entry holes in the exterior walls \/ around doors and windows<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid having garden beds next to the house also helps<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember they will also look to move indoors during the warmer months; during hot dry periods in search of water, or during lengthy periods of heavy rain for a dry nesting site.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0173a76 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"0173a76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36c1317 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"36c1317\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Ant Control FAQ<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82b6530 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"82b6530\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1371\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1371\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What is the most effective way to control ants?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1371\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1371\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best treatment for ants depends on the species and to a degree, depends on where the problem is. Most pest professionals will use of combination of baits (to kill the nest) and specialist ant sprays to prevent the ants coming into the house.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1372\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1372\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How long does it take to get rid of an ant problem?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1372\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1372\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a professional ant treatment, you should see a big drop in ant numbers after 24 hours, but if baits are being used, it will take longer to kill the nest. Typically, a nest will be completely eliminated with a bait within 3-7 days. However, if it is a major infestation or large colony, it could take up to 2 weeks, and sometimes a second application may be required.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1373\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1373\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">How long does an ant treatment last?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1373\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1373\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a spray is being used to keep ants out of the house, it will typically last between 6-12 weeks, depending on the amount of sun and rain it received. However, most professional will provide a longer warranty, sometimes 6 months or more. This will depend on the species, but they can offer a longer warranty as they normally carry out a range of actions, not just a spray to eliminate the ant problem.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1374\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1374\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Is there a way to permanently get rid of ants?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1374\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1374\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes and no. To permanently get rid of ants, you need to destroy the nest and this can be done with baits or if you can find the nest, through directly spraying with insecticide. However, there will also be plenty of other ants ready to move into the area. Therefore to keep the yard clear of ants or prevent ants getting into the house, regular treatments will be required.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1375\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1375\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Which are the best ant products? Or Which is the most effective ant killer?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1375\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1375\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ant baits are generally seen as the best (or smartest) and products as they kill the nest. However, it is important to choose the correct ant bait for the species in question \u2013 different ant species have different food preferences so its important to choose the bait to match. There are also a range of specialist ant sprays, which are only available to professional pest managers. These are classed as non-repellent sprays. They aren\u2019t designed to repel the ants and create a barrier, rather they create a treated zone which the ants walk on, picking up the insecticide. Not only does this kill the ant in question, but the ant can also transfer the insecticide to other nest mates, magnifying its effect.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c70e7c0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"c70e7c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3abba7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b3abba7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">More reading...<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7eccb84 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7eccb84\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.landcareresearch.co.nz\/discover-our-research\/biodiversity-biosecurity\/plants-invertebrates-fungi-and-bacteria\/invertebrate-systematics\/ants-wasps-and-bees\/ants-of-new-zealand\/\">Landcare New Zealand<\/a> also have some great photos for identifying ants in New Zealand.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d633c40 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d633c40\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-35d360a\" data-id=\"35d360a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3700258 elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"3700258\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-17661 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-pest-control-ants pest-ants wpbf-post\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/in-focus-small-brown-ants-inside-buildings\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"151\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Invasive-ants-Coastal-Brown-megacephala5j-copy-low-res-e1578700821717-300x151.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6662\" alt=\"African big headed ant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Invasive-ants-Coastal-Brown-megacephala5j-copy-low-res-e1578700821717-300x151.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Invasive-ants-Coastal-Brown-megacephala5j-copy-low-res-e1578700821717-310x156.jpeg 310w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Invasive-ants-Coastal-Brown-megacephala5j-copy-low-res-e1578700821717-150x75.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Invasive-ants-Coastal-Brown-megacephala5j-copy-low-res-e1578700821717.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Pest Control Ants<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/in-focus-small-brown-ants-inside-buildings\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tIn Focus: Small Brown Ants Inside Buildings\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>A helpful, quick-reference guide to the most commonly encountered species of small brown ants found inside buildings.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/in-focus-small-brown-ants-inside-buildings\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about In Focus: Small Brown Ants Inside Buildings\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1846371\" data-id=\"1846371\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8178e07 elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"8178e07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-19234 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-research company-sumitomo pest-ants pesticide-igrs pesticide-non-pyrethroids pesticide-non-repellents product-service-baits product-service-other wpbf-post\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/how-do-ants-eat-solid-food\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" ><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ant-larvae-LR-300x150.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-19235\" alt=\"Ant larvae\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ant-larvae-LR-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ant-larvae-LR-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ant-larvae-LR-310x155.png 310w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ant-larvae-LR-150x75.png 150w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ant-larvae-LR.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__badge\">Ant Research<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/how-do-ants-eat-solid-food\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tHow Do Ants Eat Solid Food?\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>The latest research into ant behaviour shows that ant larvae have a pivotal role in allowing adult ants to ingest solid food.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/pest-control-ants\/research\/how-do-ants-eat-solid-food\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Do Ants Eat Solid Food?\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2fcd5d0\" data-id=\"2fcd5d0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find a pest control company CONTENTS: \u00a0 Pest Status Health and safety Types of ants Black ants Brown ants Invasive ants Fire ants Ant Identification Life-Cycle Ant Nests \/ Colony Key behaviours Ant Bites How to get rid of ants? Ant products How do ant baits work? How to prevent an ant infestation? Ant Control Frequently asked questions (FAQ) PEST SNAPSHOT &#8211; ANTS Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera (related to wasps and bees) Family: Formicidae Health threat: Generally low Bite \/ [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11374,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Pest Ants In New Zealand | Types, Nests, Control, Prevention","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about pest ants in New Zealand \u2013 identification, bite\/sting information, prevention tips and professional ant treatments","_seopress_robots_index":"","_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11729","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","wpbf-post"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11729"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11729\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39928,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11729\/revisions\/39928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}