Pest Control
The Black Ant (Garden Ant)The Black Ant (Garden Ant)
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Ants are not considered to be insects of public health significance, merely a nuisance, as generally speaking they do not carry diseases and, contrary to popular opinion, they do not bite.
In Britain, the black ant is commonly found in nests outdoors in soil, walls and under pavings. The insect lives in large communities. Worker ants will forage widely in search of food to take back to the nest and occasionally enter houses in search of sweet foods. The workers will tend to follow well defined trails or paths to reach the food source.
Control Measures
a) Good housekeeping maintenance
Ants are encouraged by sweet food products. They will be discouraged therefore by good housekeeping.
Cupboards, shelves and work surfaces that may have sweet substances on them should be thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water to remove any traces
Food containers such as jam jars, treacle tins, molasses, etc. should be tightly closed after use and the jar and lid thoroughly cleaned.
b) Treating the nest
In most cases, the nest will be outside the property. Dealing with the nest will prevent the ants from entering the property. Although the actual location of the nest can be difficult to find, the general area can be located by following the trail of worker ants to the outside.
The nest should be treated with a suitable insecticide, which is approved for use against ants. There are a number of products on the market, which are available from DIY stores, garden centres, chemists, etc. Such products will contain the same active ingredients as the insecticides used by Council and other professional pest controllers. It is important that you follow manufacturers instructions carefully when using such products.
c) Treating access points
The place/s where the ants are gaining access should be established and a suitable insecticide should be used around that area. It is likely that ants will be gaining access from around skirting boards, cracks in the floor/wall or around windows. The insecticide should be placed in such a way that any ants entering the room are forced to come into contact with it.
Once again, only insecticides that are approved for use against ants should be used and the manufacturers instructions must be followed carefully when using such products.
You must be patient when using insecticides against ants as these are not the "knock down" type which have an immediate effect (eg: fly sprays). The poison acts by the ants taking it back on their bodies to the nest. For this reason, you will continue to see ants for some days but their numbers will decrease.
Flying Ants
Flying ants are not a separate type of ant. They are merely winged black ants, which emerge from the nest in large numbers over a short time period. This usually occurs in the late summer and will often occur from many nests in an area at the same time. The winged ants fly away, mating on the wing. The males then die with the mated females surviving to found new colonies.
The emergence of flying ants from a nest is not something which can be prevented by any professional pest controller, nor can they attend quickly enough to treat such "swarming" once it has happened, since it is over in minutes. The only control that is instant enough to have any effect is the use of a knock-down aerosol insecticide, ie: fly-spray.
Important
- Always read and follow manufacturers instructions on using insecticide.
- Do not use insecticide near foodstuffs.
- Ensure you are using the right type of insecticide for the pest and the type circumstances which you have.
- Inform other members of the household where insecticide has been used.
- Use appropriate protective clothing where the product information advises.
For more information contact the Environmental Health Division.
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