Specialist Ant Control in Thames Ditton

Black or garden (Lasius niger) Ant Control in Thames Ditton

Garden Ant or Common Black Ant could be considered the most common type of ant in Thames Ditton, 2mm – 3mm, shiny black, elbowed antennae, large head, slender thorax. Colonies can have a wide range of locations often in close proximity to human buildings, entering them to forage for food. There can be thousands of ants in a black ant nest in Thames Ditton. In the summer winged male and female ants leave the nest to mate. An integrated approach is often taken for Ant Control in Thames Ditton. Which can include insecticide gel baits or sprays. 

Tropical Ant Control in Thames Ditton

There are many non native species, tropical ants such as: Pharoah Ghost, Acrobat, Carpenter and the Argentine, all these species may need several visits using professional baits to eradicate the colony.

Less frequent pest ant species in Thames Ditton – Longhorn Crazy Ant (Paratrechina longicornis)

Pharoah (Monomorium pharaonis) Ant Control in Thames Ditton

The second most control ant in Thames Ditton are Pharoah Ants a tropical ant species

Pharoah Ant workers are up to 2mm, queens 3.6mm, males 3mm. They are a pale straw colour with darker head and abdomen and have noticeably black eyes, the males are black and have wings. The Pharoah ant prefers to nest in warm (25 ۫C), humid (80%) areas, near to sources of food and water such as wall voids and under floors. Colonies are normally very large. When they become too large a young queen and a number of workers will leave to find an alternative site known as ‘budding’ the new colonies are known as satellite nests. Colonies can be between 50,000 – 1,000,000 strong. 

Insect Growth regulator granules are often used to provide Ant Control in Thames Ditton. Insect Growth regulator granules features s-methoprene, an effective insect growth regulator that disrupts reproduction and halts the growth of larvae within Pharaoh’s ant colonies. This easy-to-use granular bait comes pre-packaged in a convenient container with a food attractant. Simply cut it open and attach it to a suitable surface for optimal results.

It is often recommended not use insecticide spray or powders to eradicate Pharoah Ants, as they can cause the colony to bud and spread, making the problem worse. Ants the colony goes into survival mode thinking they are under attack. 

Ghost (Tapinoma melanocephalum) Ant Control in Thames Ditton

Ghost ants, known for their invasive nature, have found their way into Europe and share similar habitats with Pharaoh ants. You’ll often see them in places like public buildings, residential homes, and warm environments such as greenhouses and zoos. These ants have intriguing colonies with multiple queens, each nest supporting anywhere from 100 to 1,000 workers. Interestingly, a single colony can comprise several nests that interchange workers freely. When they come from the same area, ghost ants tend to be non-aggressive towards one another.

Effective control of Ghost ants hinges on completely eliminating all nests. The best method for achieving this is through baiting. While traditional contact treatments can reduce ant numbers, they often fall short of fully eradicating nests because they depend on ants directly contacting the insecticide instead of consuming it and bringing it back to their colony. Additionally, these contact insecticides can be repellent, which may inadvertently lead to an increase in satellite colonies. To effectively manage the population, applying gel bait along the foraging paths of the Ghost ants can yield positive results within a few weeks, depending on the size of the colony.

Acrobat (Crematogaster scutellaris) Ant Control in Thames Ditton

Acrobat ants, or Crematogaster scutellaris, are an introduced species in the UK, often spotted in various buildings. They are easily recognized by their unique heart-shaped abdomens and their amusing, acrobatic movements when they feel threatened.

Ant Gel is expertly designed to attract a wide variety of ant pest species. It features a unique active ingredient, indoxacarb, which becomes highly effective once inside the ants. This distinct mode of action sets it apart from other ingredients on the market. The delayed mortality caused by indoxacarb ensures that ants consume the bait and carry it back to their nests, where they spread it to others, leading to a significant decrease in infestation levels. Through the process of trophallaxis, ants share the bait with the colony’s reproductive members, ultimately resulting in queen mortality and a complete eradication of the infestation within days of application. This powerful formulation quickly lures ants, even in the presence of other food sources, and is suitable for a range of application areas, both indoors and outdoors.

Argentine (Linepithema humile) Ant Control in Thames Ditton

To effectively manage Argentine ants – gel baits are very effective. These baits are specially formulated to lure ants, enabling them to take the bait back to their colony, which ultimately leads to their elimination.

Carpenter ant (Camponotus spp) Ant Control in Thames Ditton

Carpenter ants, part of the Camponotus genus, are a common pest in the UK. These ants are notorious for burrowing into wood to build their nests, although they don’t actually eat the wood. You’ll often find them in places with wooden structures, both inside and outside of homes.

Useful information British Pest Control Association resource link:

https://bpca.org.uk/a-z-of-pest-advice/ant-control-how-to-get-rid-of-ants-bpca-a-z-of-pests-/188954