An ant treatment is not a one-product spray of the skirting boards. Done properly it is a short investigation followed by a mix of methods aimed at the nests, most of which you never see. Knowing the steps makes it easier to compare quotes and to spot a job that skipped the important part.
Before the visit
Expect a few questions when you first call: where the ants are, how long it has been going on, what you've already used, whether there are pets or young children, and roughly how big the house and section are. Products you've already sprayed matter, because a repellent spray can scatter a trail and make the next treatment slower. Keep the cans or packets so the technician can read the labels.
Step by step on the day
- Inspection. The technician follows trails inside and out to find where ants enter and, where possible, where they nest. They check the kitchen and bathrooms, along skirtings and window frames, under the house or around the slab edge, decks, paths, gardens, and any pot plants near the doors.
- Working out the species. The method depends on it. Argentine ants, white-footed house ants and the occasional native species respond to different products and placements.
- Outside first. Most household ant problems start outside. Non-repellent products are applied where ants travel and enter: the junction of paths and walls, weep holes, cable and pipe entries, fence lines and deck edges. Ants walk through them without noticing and carry the product back.
- Bait inside. Gel or liquid bait goes into cracks, behind appliances, or into closed bait stations along active trails. Surface spraying indoors is usually kept to a minimum.
- Advice. You should leave with clear instructions: what not to clean away, how long to keep pets off treated areas, and when to expect results.
- Follow-up. For Argentine and white-footed ants a second visit after a few weeks is common. Ask whether it's included in the quote.
Treating Argentine ants
Argentine ants change the plan more than any other species in Auckland. Landcare Research describes colonies with many queens that bud off new nests nearby, and natural spread of around 150 metres a year, faster when nests travel in pot plants, soil or freight. Neighbouring nests behave like one large colony, so wiping out a single nest does little on its own.
For a house, that means the treatment focuses on the boundary of the property and on entry points rather than on hunting every nest. Landcare also notes that concrete paths and driveways act as "ant highways" where surface sprays break down quickly, which is one reason a non-repellent product placed at the right spot outperforms a heavy spray. Expect the technician to talk about keeping it under control rather than eliminating the species from the street. If your neighbours have the same problem, treating several properties at once works better than one house alone.
Argentine ants are listed as an unwanted organism, so don't move soil, mulch or pot plants from an infested property to somewhere else.
Treating white-footed house ants
Landcare Research records these small black ants with pale feet nesting in the wall cavities of buildings, where they can build up to very high numbers. In practice they often appear around windows, power points and bathrooms. Their workers don't share food with each other, so bait has to be placed in larger amounts and closer to where they feed. Treatment usually combines bait inside with non-repellent treatment around the outside walls. See ants nesting in walls and ceilings for the signs.
Who can apply the products
Some products used for ant control are restricted. Under the Environmental Protection Authority's rules, the people who apply them commercially need the Urban Pest Control strand of the New Zealand Certificate in Pest Operations (Level 3) or another qualification the EPA recognises, or must work under the guidance of someone who has it. It's a fair question to ask on the phone.
What you do before they arrive
- Clear the kitchen benches and the cupboard under the sink.
- Don't spray or wipe the trails with cleaner for a day or two beforehand. The technician needs to see them.
- Move pet bowls and pet food somewhere you can keep them for the day.
- Unlock side gates and under-house access.
After the visit, see keeping ants out after a treatment.
Ant control questions
How long does an ant treatment take?
For a typical three-bedroom house, most technicians spend somewhere between forty minutes and an hour and a half, depending on how far the trails go and how much of the section needs treating.
Will I see more ants straight after the treatment?
Often, yes, for a day or two. Ants feeding on bait and walking through outdoor treatments are carrying it home. Resist the urge to wipe them up or spray them.
Do I need to leave the house?
Usually not for an ant treatment, which mostly happens outside and with baits inside. Ask the technician; the answer depends on the products and where they are applied.
Is one treatment enough for Argentine ants?
Sometimes. Because nests on neighbouring properties can move back in, many Argentine ant jobs need a follow-up a few weeks later, and some homes choose a seasonal treatment each spring.
Where these facts come from
Checked 27 October 2026