Black House Ant Identification Melbourne
Identify black house ants — Melbourne's most common kitchen ant pest.
Black House Ant in Melbourne — Quick Answer
Black house ants are Melbourne's most frequently encountered household ant. These small, shiny black ants measure 2.5–3 mm and form long trailing lines to food sources in kitchens and pantries. Colonies can contain thousands of workers with multiple queens. T47 Pest Control eliminates black house ant colonies using professional-grade gel baits that workers carry back to the nest, destroying the entire colony including the queens.
How to Identify Black House Ant
Size
2.5–3 mm worker body length
Colour
Shiny, uniformly black
Behaviour
Forms long trailing lines; strongly attracted to sweet foods; multiple queens per colony
Habitat
Kitchens, pantries, bathrooms; nests in wall cavities, under pavers, in garden beds
Look-Alikes & Confusion Notes
May be confused with Argentine ants, which are duller brown. Black house ants have a shiny, jet-black appearance and emit a distinct chemical odour when crushed.
Risk & Urgency
Low. Black house ants are a nuisance pest — they contaminate food but do not bite or cause structural damage. However, their rapid colony growth means early treatment prevents larger infestations.
Where Found in Melbourne
Black house ants are ubiquitous across Melbourne suburbs. They are the ant species most commonly found trailing into kitchens, particularly during warmer months from October to April.
What to Do Now
Clean up food spills immediately, store sweet foods in sealed containers, and wipe down ant trails with soapy water to disrupt scent markers. For colony elimination, T47 Pest Control applies gel baits that target the entire nest.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why do black house ants keep coming back?
- Surface sprays kill only the visible ants. Unless the colony and queens are destroyed, new workers will continue to emerge. Professional gel bait treatment targets the entire colony through transfer feeding.
- Are black house ants harmful?
- Black house ants are a nuisance rather than a danger. They don't bite or sting but will contaminate food in kitchens and pantries. Some people find their presence distressing due to large trail numbers.