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Don’t Let An Ant Infestation Ruin Your Summer

Ants are one of the most common types of summer pest. Two common species found in Britain are the garden ant and the pharaoh’s ant.

Ordinary garden ants are around 3-4 mm long and are often referred to as ‘flying ants’ as they produce wings during the summer to allow them to mate. The common pharoah's ant on the other hand is much smaller at only 2mm long and yellowy brown in colour. These ants are often found indoors as they originate from much warmer climates. Like most ants the pharaoh’s ant needs water to survive which is why they are often found near kitchens and bathrooms. They also pose a health risk as they transmit pathogenic organisms from feeding in unhygienic areas such as drains, refuse bins and wound dressings.

It may not seem like a major problem if you spot a lone ant wandering across your worktop, however within a matter of days you could have an entire colony of ants setting up camp in your home to breed and feed on left over food. You can reduce the chances of an ant infestation by keeping your home thoroughly clean at all times, taking our any rubbish regularly and storing all food in airtight containers. Due to their small size ants generally have no problem getting into any home, however ensuring all doors and windows are sealed with weather stripping or putting salt, peppermint or chilli pepper around any cracks can discourage ants from coming in.

There are many different forms of ant control products on the market. Bait ant traps are often the most popular, however you must ensure you have serious ant problem before using these as they can attract more ants into the home. Although sprays, powders and bait traps can be a useful short-term remedy, they often don’t eliminate the ant nest, meaning you will soon have another batch of ants crawling around your kitchen floor.

Ants are seriously unhygienic. Babies and young children are at high risk of catching infections from these pests as their immune systems are not fully developed. They can also be a real nuisance and can ruin summer garden parties and barbeques (one of your guests spotting an ant crawling across the dinner table can be extremely embarrassing).

Ensure your household is a happy and healthy one this summer and contact a high quality pest control firm for expert advice and help.