Why do ants keep coming back to my kitchen?

Ants usually return when a food source, water source, access point, or nearby nesting pressure remains active. Surface treatment alone often does not solve the full problem.

Do you provide ant control for homes and businesses?

Yes. We assist with ant problems in homes, apartment complexes, restaurants, offices, guest properties, warehouses, and other commercial sites.

Can ants come from outside even if my house is clean?

Yes. Ant activity is not always caused by poor hygiene. Ants may enter from gardens, paving, wall lines, foundations, bins, drains, planter areas, or nearby nesting points.

Do you cover all of Cape Town?

We serve many Cape Town suburbs and surrounding areas. The quickest way to check is to use the booking or quote form and select your area.

Can I book ant control online?

Yes. You can request a fast quote, call, or contact us on WhatsApp.

What should I do before an ant control service?

That depends on the property and the pattern of activity. Once your booking is confirmed, the relevant preparation guidance can be provided.

Are ants a serious pest problem?

They can be. While ants are often dismissed as minor, recurring infestations can become persistent, disruptive, and difficult to control if the source pressure is not properly addressed.

Ant Control Cape Town | Verminator | Verminator Pest Control

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Common ant species and behaviour in Cape Town

In Cape Town and the Western Cape, a few ant species account for most call-outs. Knowing what you’re likely dealing with helps us target the colony and reduce repeat activity. Here are the species we see most often and the clues that point to them.

Argentine ants

Linepithema humile

Small light to dark brown ants (about 2–3 mm) that form massive colonies with multiple queens. They move in distinct trails and are among the most widespread ants in South Africa. In the Western Cape they have invaded much of the coastal belt and are often the dominant house ant—residents frequently report rivers of little brown ants in summer.

Distinct trails to food and water
Tiny cracks used as entry points
Strong in numbers; persists after surface spray
Often peaks in warmer months

Cape Town and the coastal belt are classic Argentine ant territory. Colony elimination with baiting is essential.

Black house ant / Black garden ant

Ochetellus glaber, Lasius niger

The classic tiny shiny black ant in kitchens and gardens, about 2.5–3 mm long. They forage in long trails to anything sweet and often nest in wall cavities, under paving, or outdoors. Killing foragers alone is rarely enough—the colony keeps sending more.

Shiny black ants in trails
Drawn to sugar, spills, and pet food
Nests in walls, paving, or garden
Activity returns quickly after DIY spray

Found across Cape Town suburbs. Sweet baits and perimeter treatment are highly effective when the nest is targeted.

Pharaoh ants

Monomorium pharaonis

Very small (about 2 mm), yellowish or light brown, almost translucent. They thrive in warm, humid spots and nest in wall voids, behind cabinets, and in hidden spaces. Colonies have multiple queens and can “bud”—split into new colonies if threatened by spray—so baiting is critical.

Tiny yellow or pale ants in faint trails
Often near sinks, baseboards, or pet bowls
Indoor-focused; rarely seen outside in cold months
Spraying can worsen by causing colony to split

Common in Cape Town homes and apartments year-round. Indoor baiting is the right approach; we avoid sprays that trigger budding.

Big-headed ant (Coastal brown ant)

Pheidole megacephala

Two worker sizes: smaller minors (2–3 mm) and larger majors with big heads (4–5 mm). Colour ranges from yellow-brown to reddish-brown. They build loose sandy mounds at nest entrances and can out-compete other ants. They nest in soil, under paving, and sometimes indoors in wall cracks or potted plants.

Small brown ants with some larger “soldier” types
Sandy soil piles or mounds at nest openings
Aggressive foragers in kitchens and bathrooms
Can displace Argentine ants in some areas

Seen in some Cape Town suburbs and coastal spots. Protein and sugar baits plus perimeter treatment work best.

Fire ants

Solenopsis species

Reddish-brown ants that build noticeable mounds in soil or lawn and deliver a painful sting when disturbed. They forage for food and can enter homes. Less common in the Western Cape than in warmer, drier regions, but they do occur in suitable microclimates.

Mounds in lawn or garden that erupt when disturbed
Painful sting; aggressive when nest is threatened
Reddish-brown colour; 2–6 mm
More often in northern/eastern SA; occasional in Cape Town

If you have stinging ants and visible mounds, we treat the nest directly and use baits for lasting control.

Identify the ants in your property

Compare common Cape Town ant types, behaviour clues, and likely activity patterns.

Identify the ants in your property

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