Identify your Pests > Ants

Garden Ant (Lasius niger)
Pharaoh's ant (Monomorium pharantis)
Rogers Ant (Hypoponera punctatissima)

All ants belong to the order of insects known as Hymenoptera, which include some of the most highly evolved insects known to man. They are social insects that build and develop intricate nests with a complex hierarchy of male and females. Nest building and nursing of young, together with foraging for food is undertaken by the workers (sterile females). Reproduction is performed by fertile females (Queens) and the males are responsible for the fertilisation of the queens.
Most common of all in the UK, and the easiest to treat is the Black / Garden Ant (Lasius niger), and for commercial and domestic premises alike, are pests that present numerous difficulties during the summer months.
Rogers Ant (Hypoponera punctatissima), are sub-tropical and are not confined to heated premises, preferring damp locations in the cracks and crevices and drainage runs.
The Pharaoh's Ant (Monomorium pharantis), however, is of tropical origin and is at home in heated buildings. Treatment of this pest, if undertaken incorrectly will dramatically compound the infestation, by fragmenting the nests and doubling / quadrupling the problem making further treatments lengthy and costly.

Following identification, treatments are relatively low key and unobtrusive, light infestations of Garden Ants can be successfully treated with commercial insecticides obtainable from most DIY stores. Pharaoh's Ants , Rogers Ants and deeply seated infestations of Garden Ants are best left to the professional, and the industrial residual insecticides / hormonal growth regulators available for professional use.