Ants only need the tiniest crack to enter your home and establish a colony. Once set up it can be very tricky to get rid of them as a colony can range from the hundreds to the thousands.
They are attracted to sugary/greasy foods. Keeping these in airtight containers can help deter them.
What are ants?
- Ants have their head, thorax and abdomens distinctly separated by narrow waists.
Their antennae always have sharp L-shaped joints.
They are highly social insects living in colonies controlled by Queens, and it is usually the foragers that are observed in the home.
There are two species of ants in the UK which are normally considered to be pests. These are:
Black Garden Ants (Lasius niger)
These ants are a very dark brown colour, and nest in the soil, under paving stones and under the foundation of buildings.The forager ants, which are attracted to sweet foodstuffs, are 3-5mm in length, and will often enter buildings to forage for food.
The large, black flying ants that are seen from July to August are the reproductive adult stages of the Black Ants.
Pharaoh’s Ants (Monomorium pharaonis).
Unlike the Black Ants, this species of ant will always nest within the foundations of a building. The nest can spread by a form of ‘budding’ from the main nest, with a queen located within each ‘bud’ of the super nest. The foraging ants are much smaller in length, 1mm, compared to Black Ants. They have a yellow/light brown colouration, and will forage for any sweet or protein based organic matter.
What problems do ants cause?
- The Black Garden Ant will often invade buildings from the outside foraging for sweet foodstuff. They have not been shown to carry any infectious diseases. However, they are often considered to be an annoyance and some people have a phobia of Black Ants.
- The Pharoah’s Ants will forage for both high protein and sugar based foods, and are often attracted to soiled areas and excrement.
Pharaoh’s Ants have been shown to carry bacteria on their bodies, and, as such, they could spread infection.
How are ants controlled?
- Black Ants can be controlled using different methods.
- The area where the ants are foraging should be kept clean.
- The nest can be located by following the foraging ants trail to the nest entrance. The nest can then be removed or destroyed using an insecticide dust.
- A ‘barrier’ treatment can be applied along the trail of the foraging ants using an insecticidal dust or aerosol.
- A bait can be used which the foraging ants will take to the nest which causes the ants to destroy the nest after the Queen is killed.
- Pharaoh’s Ants must always be treated by a professional pest control operator. Or with a bait that is taken back to the nest.
- The application of sprays will only exacerbate the level of infestation, since the failure of the foraging ants to return to a nest will only cause the nest to increase in size!
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