Description: The garden ant can be found
all over the United Kingdom. Typical worker ants are 4 to 5mm long of a
brown/black colour with elbowed antennae and biting mouth parts. The queen
tends to be much larger at about 10 to 15mm.
Biology: Garden ants usually nest
outdoors in lawns, flower beds, beneath paving stones and at the base of
walls. Premises are usually invaded by worker ants foraging for food,
especially sweet foods. During summer, winged females (queens) and males leave
the nest on a warm afternoon and take flight. During this flight, which may
only last 2 to 3 hours, the ants mate. The formation of a new colony starts
with a mated winged female digging into the earth to overwinter and start a
new colony in the spring.
Control: If possible, trace the trail of
worker ants to the nest. If the nest can be exposed, and it is safe to do so,
apply an insect powder labelled for that use. If it is not possible to trace
the nest, use a residual insecticidal spray to treat outside the building.
Special attention should be paid to likely entry points such as door frames,
air bricks and waste pipes to create an insecticidal barrier. In addition, use
of gels and liquid feeding baits can help with longer term control.
Garden Ant
