Ants are one of the most common pests in Malaysian homes, hostels, restaurants, and offices. You might see just a few at first, but behind the scenes, a whole colony could be building up often inside your walls, floor cracks, or even electrical sockets.
In this blog, we’ll cover:
Why ants invade your space
The types of ants commonly found in Malaysia
How ant colonies grow
What attracts ants indoors
Tips to prevent and control ant infestations
Ants are constantly searching for food and water. Once a scout ant finds a good source — like sugary drinks, crumbs, or grease — it leaves a scent trail for others to follow. That’s how a few ants quickly turn into a long trail of hundreds.
They usually enter through:
Window gaps and door frames
Wall cracks and tiles
Drainpipes and weep holes
Tree branches touching walls
Here are some ants you’re likely to encounter:
Often found in kitchens, especially near sweet foods. Hard to spot due to their small size.
Extremely small and often nest inside walls or electrical outlets. Known to form multiple colonies.
Larger black ants. They don’t eat wood, but nest inside damp wood and can damage structures.
Aggressive and deliver painful stings. Usually found outdoors but can enter buildings.
Ant colonies are complex, made up of:
Queen – The egg-laying machine; she stays hidden
Workers – Collect food, maintain the nest, and care for young
Soldiers – Protect the colony
Winged Ants (Swarmers) – Reproductive ants that fly out to start new colonies
β‘οΈ Killing a few worker ants doesn’t solve the problem. You need to eliminate the entire colony, especially the queen.
| Environment | Common Ant Attractants |
|---|---|
| Homes | Sugar, honey, crumbs, pet food, water droplets |
| Hostels | Unsealed snacks, shared kitchen mess |
| F&B Outlets | Spilled drinks, sweet sauces, food bins |
| Offices | Sugar packets, coffee stains, pantry spills |
Ants also love moisture, so leaking pipes, wet sponges, and floor traps can attract them too.
While ants don’t usually carry disease, they can still be a problem:
Contaminate food and food prep areas
Bite or sting (fire ants)
Damage wood and insulation (carpenter ants)
Attract other pests like spiders or lizards
Hurt your business image (bad reviews, health inspections)
Over-the-counter sprays kill only the ants you see. But the real colony is hidden, and spraying can cause the colony to split and relocate, making things worse.
Common DIY mistakes:
Spraying the trail (disrupts scent, but doesn’t kill colony)
Using bait incorrectly
Not sealing entry points
Ignoring food/water sources
At PestSol Sdn Bhd, we use a strategic approach for long-lasting results:
β
Site inspection to locate trails & nests
β
Targeted gel baiting (ants bring poison back to the colony)
β
Residual spraying for prevention
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Advice on sealing, sanitation & future-proofing
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Monthly/quarterly contracts for F&B outlets and hostels
Our treatments are safe, effective, and customised for residential and commercial properties.
Wipe counters and floors daily
Store sweet and greasy food in airtight containers
Seal entry points like cracks and wall gaps
Empty trash bins regularly
Fix any moisture problems (leaks, wet cloths, floor traps)
Keep pet food bowls clean
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