Are ants harmful to humans?

Ants can carry bacteria, such as streptococcus, e. coli, shigella, staphylococcus and salmonella. In addition, ants can bite or sting if provoked.

What are the signs of an ant infestation?

Ants in large numbers are fairly easy to spot. The best time to spot ants is during the twilight hours (sunrise / sunset). Keep an eye out for the following:-

• Army on the march – ants are highly social insects that live in hierarchical colonies. If you have an infestation, you’re likely to see an army of ants on the march in your kitchen or bathroom. The ants will be following a pheromone trail, which has been created by ant “scouts.”
• Ants in food – if you find ants helping themselves to food in your kitchen, throw it out immediately.
• Ants in pet food placed inside or outside the home.
• Ant nest – an ant nest is usually characterised by a mound of dirt or soil at its entrance. An ant nest can be in the ground, under rocks or in a wall cavity.
• Rustling sounds from a wall or floor – an ant colony sounds like rustling leaves on a windy day. The rustling sound gets louder when the colony is disturbed or feels threatened.