Ants are eusocial insects related to bees and wasps (Hymenoptera). They live in nests that contain many hundreds and sometimes thousands of ants. Most are wingless sterile females, known as workers, but there will also be fertile females (queens), and males.
Species Of Ants
Argentine-Ant Argentine ants are aggressive, often eliminating other types of ants in the same area. Worker ants will follow food trails for long distances so nests are not easy to track. They prefer sweet foods but will also eat live and dead insects, meats, cereals and damaged fruit.
Identification: Worker ants: Approx. 2mm long, light to dark brown in colour. Queen ants: Approx. 4 - 6mm long and usually more than one in a colony.
Black Garden Ant The Lasius Niger commonly known as the black garden ant or black ant, is by far the most common species across Europe and the united kingdom. It is a very fast moving ant. They can be very active with lots of energy.
Identification: Garden Ants usually nest outdoors in lawns, flower beds, beneath paving stones and at the base of walls. Premises are usually invaded by worker ants foraging for food, especially sweet foods. When food is found by one ant, there will soon be others and a trail of worker ants take food back to the nest.
Ghost Ant The ant comes from the tropics and so needs warmth and protection. Ghost ants are highly adaptable in their nesting habits and can be found in spaces between walls, between cupboards, folded clothing or linen, or in the soil of potted plants. Indoors they are mainly found in the kitchen and bathroom as they look for food and water. In kitchens they prefer sweet items such as packages of sugar, honey or candy. They will also feed on grease deposits although not as readily as they will on sweets. Trails are often difficult to see due to the tiny size and pale colour of these ants, and their random feeding pattern.
Identification: The ghost ant is a very tiny ant, 1.5-2mm long Pale almost see through body and legs, with a darker head and thorax.
Pharaoh’s Ant Pharaoh ants prefer to nest in warm (25°C), humid (80%) areas, which are near sources of food and/or water. Nests are usually located in inaccessible areas such as wall voids, behind skirting boards, in furniture, under floors and between linens. This is a trail-making ant that can spread disease mechanically.
Identification: Workers are only 2mm long, the Queen 5mm long and both are yellow in colour with darker markings on the abdomen.
Products to control Ants:
Imidasect Ant Gel (35g tube) Highly effective formulation to attract and control: Pharaoh ants, Black ants and Argentine ants.
Deltasect Highly effective insecticide for professional use against crawling and fly insects.
Eradisect Fly Killer Spray Eradisect Fly Killer Spray is a broad spectrum space and surface spray made from natural pyrethrins.
Eradisect® Bait Bunker The Bait Bunker is a discreet and highly effective gel bait station for ants and other crawling insects.
