If you have moved into a new Mernda build and found ants on the bench by the second week, you are not alone. The clay under the northern estates cracks hard in summer, the colonies head for moisture, and a slab with fresh mulch and paving against it is the easiest path to a kitchen tap. Black ants and coastal browns nest under the slab edge and in the garden beds; Argentine ants run as one huge colony across whole streets in the denser townhouse pockets and cannot be dealt with by spraying one trail.
We identify the species first because the baits differ, then place gel and granular baits that the workers carry back to the queens. Outside we treat the slab edge, paving joints, garden borders and the mulch against the walls. Bigger jobs get a return check after a fortnight. We also show you the small things that make the difference, like keeping mulch a hand-width off the slab and fixing the dripping outdoor tap.