Ants can find the smallest of cracks in buildings; if they can find a source of food within the building they will communicate to other ants and lead them to the building to feed. They will feed on most foodstuffs, Pharaoh ants prefer more proteinaceous foods and gardens prefer sweeter substances. Although how very small ants are, they are capable of causing a lot of havoc throughout the home. Garden ants do not carry any risk to the public’s health, but they’re a nuisance for excavating soil and ruining gardened areas. Whereas Pharaohs ants have a tendency to infest hospitals which are rich sources of food for them providing them with: blood, intravenous liquids, bodily excretions, sterile and soiled dressings. This is a health risk in relation to passing of pathogenic organisms. Ants mainly become a nuisance in spring and summer, in late winter or early spring queens set out to start construction of new nests, by spring/summer these nests are fully constructed and efficient also this is when a lot of ants become winged and take flight.

DESCRIPTIONS AND IDENTIFICATION

All ants have the three main divisions of the body; head, thorax and abdomen. These body parts are joined by very narrow waists. All ants have antennae that feature an elbow-like joint.

Pharaoh's ants have biting mouthparts and a set of fore wings hooked to a pair of hind wings, although wings may not be present in all cases. Workers are 1.5-2mm long and yellow/brown in colour. Males are 3mm long, black, winged but do not fly. Queens are 3.5-5mm long, dark red with non-flying wings that are discarded after mating.

The black worker ant is 3.4-5mm long and despite its name, is dark brown in colour whilst the queen is typically 15mm long and mid brown in colour.

CONTROL

Pharaoh’s Ants

The control of pharaoh's ants is difficult due to their highly developed social structure and the inaccessibility of their nests, as pharaohs ants can nest between sheets of paper. The most effective control involves the use of an insect growth regulator or insecticidal bait so that the whole infestation is affected within a short time.

Garden Ants

Control can only be achieved by the destruction of their nests. A thorough understanding of the ant species its biology, lifestyle and habits is required to achieve effective control. Insecticides should be applied to the nest areas or the pouring of boiling water over the nest is also effective.

WARNING: SUPER ANTS ON THE RISE!

Scientists claim to have discovered an ant species that could soon colonise parks and gardens across Europe, including the UK. The origin of these ants is uncertain although they are believed to be from western Asia. Colonise now exist in France, Germany, Poland and Belgium. They are seen as a threat as their colonies are 10 to 100 times greater than native ant colonies