The Common Black Ant is approx. 3 millimetres long, dark brown or black and is often seen following trails across a patio or path. They mostly live in sandy soil, in the foundations of houses or under paving, or nest in brickwork. Here they usually cause little harm. Problems can occur when the ants are foraging for food and enter buildings or climb onto your garden furniture, becoming a nuisance and contaminating food. Ants will often form trails from the food source to the entrance of their nest, through cracks and crevices.

The common Black Ant does not sting but it does squirt formic acid, which if it gets on your skin, can cause irritation. The other less common ants do sting humans but the sting is less severe than that of a bee or wasp.

There are believed to be two million ants for every person in Ireland, and their nests can contain up to 10,000 ants. There are, however, some species of ant, which are not native to Ireland and have arrived here from the tropics and do pose a health hazard. For example the Pharaoh's Ant, which is reddish yellow in colour, can cause the spread of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Streptococcus. These species prefer very warm locations, especially hospitals and bakeries, and are not so common in houses.

Nest sites start when a single winged female lays her eggs. She will tend and feed the larvae that emerge for approx. 8-9 weeks. When the first ants emerge they become workers for the new Queen. These workers will tend the Queen and subsequent larvae, as well as foraging for food.

Mating usually takes place in late summer when males and large females form wings. They can form large swarms, which usually last for 2-3 hours. All the males die, leaving mated females to found new colonies.

Because of the location of their nests ants can be quite difficult to control. Their nests can often be located outside under slabs or concrete, under floors and inside walls, with little or no evidence of them.

HOW TO TACKLE ANTS

Treatment at the entrance alone is rarely successful. Access to the nest itself is usually required. If the nest is inaccessible you can use a chemical bait, preferably one that includes boric acid. The worker ants will bring the bait back to the nest and it will poison all the inhabitants.

Insecticide powders, such as 'Nippon Ant Powder', are amongst the most effective treatments if you want to tackle the problem yourself. Dust the powder along the ant runs, cracks, crevices and in particular, the entrances to the nest. Where ants are invading premises, apply to points of access, such as door steps, window frames, airvents, etc.

X-Pest also offers pest control services for ant infestations. We use both insecticide powders and insecticide residual sprays to exterminate ants. Our sprays are safe for both home-use, outdoor use and commercial use. Contact us for more advice or for a free quotation for service.

SOME USEFUL TIPS

Ants hate black pepper, if you sprinkle a combination of bicarbonate of soda and black pepper wherever they gather it will, at least, help to deter them.

The entrance to a nest can often be established by leaving some fine breadcrumbs where you see ants. You can then easily follow the ants as they carry the crumbs back to their nest.

Ants hate mint. Plant peppermint, spearmint, tansy or wormwood in your garden. These will help to deter the ants.