Gqeberha Ant Problems Surge After Spring Rains, True Clean Data Shows

GQEBERHA, South Africa: Ant problems in Gqeberha start picking up from spring and normally get much worse as we move into summer, especially after the first rains.

An analysis of anonymised True Clean pest control records found that 89% of ant-related invoices were issued between October and April, with 68% falling between December and March. From January to March, ant treatments made up roughly one in four pest control invoices.

The records included customers from at least 13 areas across Gqeberha.

Diederik Visser from True Clean says the numbers line up closely with what the company sees every year.

“We normally notice the first increase around spring, especially after the first rains. Sometimes it even starts just before the rain. But by the end of October we usually start seeing a big increase in ant calls.”

One of the most common complaints is ants in the kitchen.

“Most people phone us because they suddenly have ants all over the kitchen. I actually helped a client with that again recently. In an established house it can become a yearly problem.”

According to Visser, ants can be difficult to control long term because the colony is often hidden somewhere the homeowner cannot see.

They may be inside wall cavities, under paving, around window frames or in the soil around the house. The ants walking across the kitchen counter can be only a small part of a much larger colony.

DIY ant sprays can still help, especially when the problem is small.

“There is nothing wrong with spraying ants yourself. It can definitely help. The problem is that people sometimes think because the ants disappeared for a few days, the whole problem is gone.”

Ant colonies can also react when they are disturbed.

“If a colony feels like it is under attack, there is a chance it can break up and form smaller satellite colonies. Then you can end up with ants coming from a few different places instead of one.”

For professional treatments, the approach depends on where the ants are coming from. Treatment may include cupboards, window areas, cracks, exterior areas, nests and the soil around the property.

Outdoor ant problems can be especially difficult because the property is not isolated from everything around it.

“You can treat a house properly, but if there is a massive ant problem next door, in an open field or in a park across the road, ants can eventually move back onto the property.”

Visser says True Clean has dealt with properties where this was clearly happening.

“We had one client with a park across the road. We could treat the property and get the problem under control, but over time the ants would start coming back again from the surrounding area.”

Paving is another issue the company regularly sees.

Large ant colonies can move soil from underneath paving and, over time, this can cause sections of paving to become loose or start sinking.

“Paving can become a big problem. For that we can do soil poisoning where we treat the area underneath and around the paving. That gives us a much better chance of getting to the actual colony.”

Weather also plays a big part in how long outdoor treatments last. Rain, irrigation and sunlight can reduce the life of some treatments, especially in exposed areas.

This is one of the reasons ant problems often return seasonally.

“Inside the house you can sometimes get longer protection, depending on the situation. Outside is different. You have rain, sun, irrigation and ants coming in from surrounding areas. That is why some properties need a top-up every year.”

The True Clean figures are based on actual invoiced pest control work and are not intended as a scientific study of the ant population in Gqeberha. Invoice dates may also differ slightly from the actual treatment date.

The pattern in the company’s records is still very clear. Ant-related work rises sharply from spring, peaks through summer and then drops off again as the cooler months arrive.

For homeowners, repeated ant trails, ants coming from the same cracks or windows, activity under paving and ants returning soon after spraying can all point to a larger colony nearby.

“If they keep coming back from the same place, there is normally more going on than the few ants you can see.”

About True Clean

True Clean provides professional pest control and cleaning services in Gqeberha and surrounding areas. Pest control services include treatments for ants, cockroaches, rodents, fleas, bed bugs and other common household pests.

Ant Control Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha | True Clean