Ants

Ants are social insects living in colonies that range from a few dozen to many thousands of individuals. Adult workers are typically 2–15 mm long depending on species, with a narrow waist (petiole), elbowed antennae and a hard, segmented body in black, brown, reddish or bicoloured forms. Juveniles (larvae and pupae) are soft, legless, whitish grubs kept out of sight within underground chambers or nest galleries, tended and fed by workers rather than found on plant foliage.

In turf and nursery situations, ants are a nesting and soil-disturbance problem rather than a plant-feeding one. Colonies excavate extensive underground tunnel systems, pushing soil to the surface as mounds, craters or loose friable patches. Some species, such as funnel ants, create particularly disruptive volcano-shaped mounds through turf; others nest in pot media, under pavers, in garden beds or at the base of retaining walls.

Ants occur throughout Australia in turf, nurseries, garden beds and amenity horticulture, with activity increasing in warm, moist conditions from spring through to autumn and slowing over winter. Many species are opportunistic and will also tend sap-sucking pests such as aphids, mealybugs and scale for the honeydew they produce, indirectly supporting these pest populations.

Management is based on correctly identifying the species involved, since biology, nest structure and risk (including stinging or invasive species of biosecurity concern) vary widely. Cultural options include reducing thatch, improving drainage and disturbing surface mounds mechanically, alongside targeted control where colonies are causing structural or amenity damage. Suspected fire ant, electric ant or yellow crazy ant detections should be reported to the relevant state biosecurity authority rather than treated as routine nuisance ants.