Pest Control Fact Sheets

Ants - Garden and Pharaoh

Garden ants and Pharaoh ants are the 2 most common found in the UK. You will find information about Garden Ants on the back of this fact sheet.

Facts about pharaoh ants

The pharaoh ant is a tiny ant, dull-yellowish to light orange in colour and not much more than 1/16 in long.

They prefer warm areas for nesting. Nesting sites include dark voids such as walls, cracks in woodwork, stacks of paper, envelopes, under appliances and carpets. They are often found near moisture such as kitchens and bathrooms.

They travel from room to room within the walls along the plumbing pipes or electrical wiring.

Pharaoh ants are found where food is available. They will eat almost anything and can easily get in to unopened packages. Pharaoh ants trail each other and are attracted to greasy or fatty foods, meats, sugary foods, and other dead insects.

They are also attracted to freshly used bandages or soiled nappies. Because of their eating habits, they can contaminate food by wandering over it.

How can I get rid of them?

Treating for pharaoh ants yourself can make the problem worse. This is because if the ants are under attack they will split up and make several new colonies. A qualified pest controller should perform treatment.

Service we provide

A pest control officer will survey your property to see how bad the problem is. This will depend on how easily we can view the area where the ants are.

Treatment for Pharaoh Ants takes up to an hour. A granular bait is used called Biopren BM, which attracts the ants and stops them from developing into adults. It is in a container, which can be easily stuck to surfaces such as tiles, fridges, cupboards and under basins.

Control can take up to 12 weeks and the Pest Officer will need to revisit 8-10 weeks after the first appointment. We will contact you to make the revisit appointment. If the problem gets worse before we are due to revisit, please contact us.

Facts about garden ants

Garden ants are harmless and are not a public health pest
They usually make their nests outdoors in lawns, flowerbeds, beneath paving stones and at the base of walls. During summer, winged females (Queens) and males leave the nest on 1 or 2 warm afternoons and take flight. During this flight the ants mate. They sometimes fly inside buildings
Worker ants usually go in to houses for food. They like food that is sweet and sugary. When 1 ant finds food, there will soon be others and a trail of worker ants taking the food back to the nest

What can you do?

We recommend that householders should treat for garden ants themselves. If possible, trace the trail of worker ants to the nest. You can usually see the opening to the nest by small piles of fine earth surrounding the entrance. If you can, pour boiling water into the nest
If you cannot trace the nest, use an insecticidal dust or spray. The label should state that is for controlling crawling insects outside. Special attention should be paid to areas such as door frames, air bricks and waste pipes. Try to create an insecticidal barrier. If you find ants indoors, the same insecticide can be used. Insecticides containing Bendiocarb are usually found to be the most effective, but please make sure that:
- You follow the instructions on the label carefully
- You take care not to contaminate food with insecticide
- The product clearly states that it is suitable for use in and around the home

Charges

For information about charges please contact Barking and Dagenham Direct.

Methods of Payment

Cash - the exact amount as no change can be given
Cheque - supported by a Cheque Guarantee Card
Credit Card - by telephone when booking the appointment

Important: If you are paying by cash and do not have the exact amount, please note that treatment will not be carried out.

Please note: We require 24 hours notice to cancel an appointment. If you fail to keep an appointment and do not notify us at least 24 hours before, a £10 fee will be incurred. No further service will be provided until this fee has been paid.