THE BIG 3 QUESTIONS
Ants and Why Do We Need to Control Them?
Garden Ants (Lasius niger)
- The most common UK species, often seen foraging in long trails.
- Usually nest outdoors in soil, lawns, paving cracks, and under patios.
- Enter homes in search of sweet foods, contaminating surfaces and cupboards.
Pharaoh’s Ants (Monomorium pharaonis)
- Much smaller and yellow-brown in colour.
- Unlike garden ants, Pharaoh’s ants nest indoors, especially in warm buildings such as flats, hospitals, and catering premises.
- They spread rapidly through multiple colonies and are known to contaminate food, medical equipment, and sterile environments.
Why control ants?
- Contamination risk: Ants travel through dirty areas, contaminating food and surfaces.
- Difficult to eradicate: Colonies can contain thousands of ants, and Pharaoh’s ants form multiple queens and satellite nests.
- Business disruption: In catering, hospitality, or healthcare environments, infestations can damage reputation and lead to enforcement action.
How to Identify a ANT Infestation
Signs of an ant problem include:
- Foraging trails of ants entering from outdoors.
- Ant nests in lawns, flowerbeds, paving cracks, or skirting boards.
- Small yellow ants indoors (likely Pharaoh’s ants).
- Winged ants (flying ants): These appear during summer as part of the breeding cycle.
- Food contamination: Ants clustered around sweet foods or pet bowls.
How We Treat an ANT Infestation
At Red Pencil Pest Control, we use professional methods to eliminate ants safely and effectively:
- Survey & Identification: Determine the species (garden ant or Pharaoh’s ant) and locate nesting areas.
- Garden Ant Treatments:
- Residual insecticide sprays or dusts applied to entry points, cracks, and paving.
- Gel baits placed where ants forage, carried back to the nest to eliminate the colony.
- Pharaoh’s Ant Treatments:
- Gel bait systems specifically designed for multi-queen colonies.
- Sprays are avoided as they can cause colonies to split, making infestations worse.
- Follow-up Monitoring: Ensure activity has reduced and provide advice on prevention.
DIY treatments (like boiling water or household sprays) rarely work long-term and may spread infestations further.