Ants 'out in full force' as warm weather brings early surge to Cape Town

Ants here, ants there, ants everywhere! They’re marching out earlier than usual this year, invading kitchens and gardens in search of crumbs, pet food, sugar, and just about anything edible.

According to Sebastian Seelig from Pest Free SA, the surge in ant activity is arriving ahead of schedule, and that’s cause for concern.

"It seems to be earlier, and it is a worrying concern because if it's like this now, then you can only imagine what March and April will be like when they are foraging.

Seelig explains that the current ant abundance is weather-related. Warmer conditions are prompting colonies to send out their young workers earlier than usual.

"It is the same common brown ant we see year after year, but there's just an abundance of them and they're out in full force," says Seeling.

Some parts of Cape Town’s CBD and Hout Bay are largely avoiding the current 'ant problem', but the Northern Suburbs, including Table View, Edgemead, Bothasig, Milnerton and Parklands, are likely to see far more activity due to their soil conditions and lush greenery.

"It is a hit and a miss because one person in Hout Bay might not have it, but the next-door neighbour might. The Northern corridor seems to be worse hit when it comes to ants."

"It's seasonal. It's not a Cape Town thing; some people just get hit harder than others."

To listen to Seelig in conversation with Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk's Breakfast Show, click below: