Ants

Black Ant:

Known as a garden ant usually nests outdoor in flower beds, pots, beneath paving stones. Premises usually invaded by working ants foraging for food. During summer winged females (queens) and sexually matured males will produce from the nest and will emerge in large numbers over a short period. This swarming occurs in many nests at the same time in the afternoon. During the swarming which may last 2-3 hours the ants mate and eventually settle down exhausted. The males usually die quickly and a small portion of mated females will survive to find new colonies.
For control if possible trace the worker ants to the nest then the nest can be removed or destroyed using insecticide dust or a barrier can be formed using insecticidal spray to keep the foraging ants away or a bate can be used which the foraging ant will take to their nest which causes the ants to destroy the nest after the queen has died.

Pharaoh Ant:

Unlike the black ants this species of ant will always nest within the foundation of a building have more than one queen. Infestation is spread by “budding”. Groups of workers and sometimes queens leave the main nest with brood to form satellite colonies. The worker ants are much smaller than the black ants they have a yellow/brown colouration and will forage any sweet or protein based organic matters. There is evidence that the pharaoh ants can carry pathogenic bacteria which could spread infection.

For control the use of conventional insecticides are not recommended for pharaoh ants, as this will almost certainly cause the ants to form satellite colonies.

Gel bait or granule bait is available and this should be placed where the worker ants forage. For this species treatment of adjacent properties may also be considered for better control.