We get phone calls every spring and summer about ant pest control in gardens. If you are seeing ants in your garden this is not usually a case for professional ant pest control services. Professional ant pest control applies when you are finding ants in your house.
The most common ant species in the UK is the familiar black garden ant, and they are harmless enough in gardens. However, most people are uncomfortable with ants coming into their home. Ants are often found in kitchens as they are attracted to sweet, sugary foods such as fruit and jam. These ants usually follow pheromone trails when they are foraging, so once they have located a food source (typically you get ants in your kitchen) then often many more will follow, and the ant infestation quickly becomes established.
There are over 50 species of ant found in the UK. Sometimes an ant infestation can be a species not native to the UK, such as the pharaoh ant. These ants are native to Africa so need a warmer temperature to survive, which means a pharaoh ant infestation would normally be found indoors in the UK. Any ant species not native to the UK is usually classed as a pest and ant pest control is always recommended, as it’s the most effective way to get rid of ants.
However, most people want to get rid of ants or stop ants coming into their house regardless of the species. You can try blocking up the ant entry points if they are coming from outside, but ants are so small it can be difficult to stop ants getting in once they are established. There are various ant powders and ant bait stations available to buy, however we often get phone calls from people who have tried to get rid of ants themselves but DIY ant prevention or off the shelf ant extermination products have failed to stop the ants coming back long term.
A professional ant pest control or ant extermination program targets the ant nest which is key. As long as the ant nest is active, ants will keep coming back and you will keep getting ants in your house. To stop ants and get rid of ants long term you may need a professional ant extermination service. This usually involves using a licensed ant bait or ant extermination gel which the ants will take back to their nest. This will finish the queen ant which will ultimately finish the ants nest and end the ant infestation.
