COMMON BLACK ANT (LASIUS NIGER)

Nests are usually formed outdoors in gardens, under paving stones, in foundations or occasionally indoors. Homes are often invaded by worker ants foraging for foods, especially sweet substances. Large numbers of winged males and females are produced in the late summer period, for breeding purposes. Mated females will find a suitable site to hibernate in the winter, producing a new colony in the spring.

Control is necessary where these ants become a serious nuisance within buildings. Although not known as dirty insects, they will crawl across unclean areas when foraging for food and incidentally contaminate human foods or clean surfaces.

PHARAOH’S ANT (MONOMORIUM PHARONIS) and GHOST ANT (TAPINOMA MELANOCEPHALUM)

Both species descend from tropical climates, but are found within heated buildings in the UK. Adult worker ants can be seen in distinct trails when foraging for food.

Control is necessary as they may contain disease organisms. Due to their small size they are able to penetrate packaging and contaminate food and sterile materials.