Darwins Ants

Darwin's Ant is a small brown ant from Australia and which has been present in Christchurch for many years.

Following a complaint of an infestation in a kitchen in Christchurch in March 1979, the concept of eradicating the insect was suggested.

Eradication is not considered possible following sampling by a team of students which has shown the infestation to be much more extensive than reports previously indicated.

It is suggested that each affected householder control infestations using the following recommendations.

On present information the ant is not considered to be either an agricultural or horticultural pest.

Your local authority and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have prepared this leaflet which sets out a simple step-by-step programme for the control of Darwin's Ants.

Search to find nests of small white eggs. They are inevitably on or under the ground in sunny locations, but in moist soil and under some cover. Look under paving stones, along edges of concrete drives and under bark mulch which are ideal nesting places.

Do a systematic search over your whole property including around house foundations and along fence lines.

Spray each nest and circular area around the nest entrance using a proprietary product which may be purchased from most hardware stores, garden centres etc.

Following the preparation instructions, make sure the area is systematically and thoroughly covered. Concentrate particularly on the nest entrance. Trickle insecticide down the entrance until the soil is thoroughly wet. The chemical can be applied by using an ordinary garden spray, capable of providing a coarse spray - not a fine spray.

Spray right around the house foundations at the same concentration recommended for the nest.

Spray over the full foundation height plus a band out from the house. Spray in and around foundation vents, door sills. Don't forget the garage and other out-buildings.

If you have ants in the house; just before you commence the outside spray programme you can clean them up using a suitable aerosol fly killer, preferably one containing a 'synthetic pyrethriod'. Spray the infected area, being careful to protect food. Brush or vacuum up the dead ants after treatment.

About five to six weeks after spraying, check outside to determine whether or not the population has been significantly reduced.

1.	Don't forget to check just outside your property, i.e. along footpaths, in the gutter and around and on road/footpath grassed areas.
2.	Once you have reduced the ant population outside and sprayed the house foundations, you should have no further trouble of ants getting inside provided you check every year and re-spray if required.
3.	A bait containing a slow-acting poison can also be used. It is generally not as effective as spraying. Mix together the following - 500 ml water 400 g sugar 50 g honey 50 g borax - obtainable from chemist 50 g boric acid - obtainable from chemist Heat the mixture to make a syrup. Soak some cake in the mixture, place in a plastic bag with small hole in it and place under cover somewhere near known ant infestations. Note: 1. Requires several days to work (workers take bait back to nest). 2. Place bait outside, away from lunch areas. 3. Keep moist.
4.	Commercially prepared baits are also available from many of the seed and hardware stores. Commercial pest control companies (e.g. Target Pest Control) can be engaged to carry out control measures if requested. However this will cost more than doing it yourself.
5.	It is most unlikely you will eradicate the ants. However, you should have no trouble in reducing the level of infestation and keeping them out of the house.