What do ants eat? If we know what they eat then we can target that type of food with baits. The baited food is then taken back to the nest and over time the nest is eliminated. This is an important consideration for effective ant control.

There are two main types of food that ants are attracted to - sweet foods or carbohydrates and proteins or fats and oils. However ants can be attracted to both sweet and protein. This is a challenge for effective ant control.

Ants can also be attracted to different foods depending on how many larvae the nest is supporting. Nests supporting a large population usually requires a protein rich diet such as the fats or oils. Nests supporting a smaller larvae population tend to be attracted to a sweeter diet such as carbohydrates.

Before we can control the ant, we like to identify the ant species so we can try and establish if they are attracted to carbs or protein.

The Singapore Ant is light brown in colour and they are a particular nuisance to us inside buildings. They are attracted to insulation and wiring and like to nest within walls close to electrical sockets. As you can see, an ant control program that works well is essential in this situation.

The Singapore Ant is usually attracted to proteins rather than sweet or carbohydrate rich foods so for a baiting system to work in order to control the ant then we need a protein bait.

The Black House Ant on the other hand prefers sweeter foods but will eat a range of different foods. When we bait this ant in order to control it we use a bait with a higher concentration of carbohydrates.

Baiting is usually a slow process. In order to achieve overall success in ant control, we need to employ other methods as well.

I like to use a special insecticidal dust inside walls and in the roof void and even in cracks and crevices. Once ants come into contact with it then they die shortly afterwards. These dusts cannot be used outside on the ground as they blow away in the wind.

Insecticidal dusts can be used effectively though for ant nests. A fine dust is pumped into the nest and enters all the galleries of the nest. Soon the ants living in the nest are controlled and eliminated.

Surface sprays are also useful for effective ant control. I like to have an external chemical barrier and an internal chemical barrier when ants are entering buildings. A surface spray treatment to the perimeter of the building as well as a surface spray treatment on the inside is also effective for ant control.

We inspect and survey thoroughly before we do anything. This is particularly true in effective ant control. We follow the trails and try to establish where their nests are.

We also advise you on hygiene and sanitation matters as they can attract scavenging ants. Crumbs on preparation surfaces and wet surfaces in dry weather can attract ants.

Ant control is a challenge for most people and with your cooperation together we can achieve success.

Give Jim's Pest Control a call on 131 546. You can also send an online enquiry through as well. We are your trusted professionals who are fully licensed, trained and Insured for your peace of mind.

By John Paton

Divisional Franchisor

Jim's Pest Control Australia & NZ

Why are Cockroaches considered Pests?

Cockroaches have been around a lot longer than humans - the earliest Cockroach fossils date back 350 million years! We on the other hand have been around for only 200,000 years.

However Cockroaches are considered Pests to us and this is due to a number of factors.

Unfortunately, we have contributed to their pest status by providing them with wonderful breeding grounds and by helping to transport them around the world on our ships and on our airplanes.

Now consider this incident. A few years back, in one of our major cities, over 2 million Cockroaches were found living in a 2 bedroom unit. This unit was empty at the time and was an excellent breeding ground. The Cockroaches had shelter, food, warmth and moisture.

Obviously that unit was unfit for human habitation until a thorough sanitation and treatment programme was carried out but we are still leaving ourselves vulnerable to a variety of health problems if we leave a cockroach population unchecked.

You have gone to sleep. You had a party and a great night was had by you and your friends. The dishes have been left out and there is left over food on the kitchen counter.

The house is in darkness. Slowly a couple of German Cockroaches emerge from their safe habourage. Tentatively checking out your kitchen surfaces they come across the food. Soon your kitchen is covered by scores of German Cockroaches as they gorge on the food.

Now this is the disgusting part. They vomit on the food and your surfaces. Their droppings mingle in with the food and get caked onto your surfaces. The food and your surfaces are contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria which could make you and your loved ones sick.

German Cockroaches can live in and around grease traps and sewers and all that filth and pathogenic bacteria can be traipsed into your kitchen as well.

You wake in the morning. Bleary eyed you make some buttered toast and pour some milk into a dish of cornflakes for the kids. Your surfaces and your food and your cutlery and crockery are probably all contaminated.

You smell something not quite right. Within feet of where you are standing there could well be scores of German Cockroaches safe in their harbourage waiting for darkness and another feast. You are actually smelling the odour given off by their secretions from their mouth parts and their cuticles or outer covering.

You might even spot a lonely German Cockroach pushed out of the habourage by it's mates due to overcrowding. If you see this happen, then you many have a serious infestation. And you might be justified in feeling annoyed or even fearful at the sight of it.

One of your children may have an allergy to Cockroaches. You have been to the Doctor and tests have been conducted.  Although testing procedures are comprehensive in trying to find out what your children are allergic to, nothing is foolproof and if you can eliminate a German Cockroach population, then this is one less thing to worry about.

Although rare, there have been documented cases of people bitten by Cockroaches. This usually occurs in extremely cramped and confined conditions where humans and Cockroaches co-exist - and normally on ships at sea.

As you can see, the Cockroaches that enter our houses are certainly considered Pests!

You will need to call upon a trained and licensed Professional Pest Control Technician.

At Jims, all of our Franchisees are trained and licensed and Fully Insured with Public Liability Insurance and Professional Indemnity Insurance. We work to the highest Industry Standards and are fully compliant with the relevant Australian Standards.

A thorough inspection is essential and we will freely give you advice as to how we can work together and combat your Cockroach problem to ensure your peace of mind.

And remember - All of our work is fully guaranteed.

By John Paton

Divisional Franchisor

Jims Pest Control Australia and NZ

Thank you for Visiting Jim's Pest Control Australia.  We would like to welcome you to our blog, an information source for pest control.