ANTS
The ultimate scavenger, ants will travel far and wide in search of food, unfortunately often in your home or business premises. Though they are not disease-carriers themselves, who knows where they have been or what they pick up on the way?
Worldwide, there are thousands of species of ants. The UK climate protects us from the majority, but we are home to a small number. Most common is the black garden ant (it's actually a very dark brown but, okay). There are also a number of the more tropical species that are able to survive in the lovely warm indoor environments we provide for ourselves.
Highly organised and social creatures, the foraging worker ants will be the ones you encounter as they invade your space in search of food and resources. They are attracted to sweet foodstuffs, particularly when part of your lovely summer picnic.
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Many people believe pouring a kettle of boiled water down the ants' nest will solve the issue, however this is a mistruth. The boiling water will indeed kill a large number of ants but will have cooled sufficiently by the time it reaches the lower depths of the complex nest - where the queen resides. Unfortunately for us, not only do ant colonies number up to half a million ants, the queen ant is a prolific breeder and will repopulate a colony in a short space of time.
INFESTATION IDENTIFICATION
Live ANts
If you’re seeing large numbers of live insects then you may well have a problem. If you find ants in your kitchen or in areas where you prepare food, then you need to do something about it fast.
Ants Nests
A nest site can look like a small pile of soil or dirt. Some species of ant like to make their home in walls or other quiet, dark places, which are more difficult to spot.
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
Protecting Your Business
Dealing with such a populous pest in a commercial environment is an arduous task. Everywhere you look there's another ant that has evaded your efforts to deal with the problem. Exceptionally important when dealing with foodstuffs and sterile environments, it is always best to consult a professional to ensure the infestation is eradicated completely.
ANT SPECIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE UK
Black/Garden ANT
4-5mm in length, this unassuming pest is the most common in the UK, being most adapted to our climate.
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Nests are frequently found in direct sunlit areas, either in soil or in the spaces between paving slabs where they build the nests underneath the source of direct warmth.
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You'll spot the worker ants out foraging in almost regimental fashion as they conga-line their way to the nearest sweet aroma being sensed.
TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED
Gel BAITS
Pest control has come a long way from the days when you’d call up a pest controller about insects in your home, only to have them come out and spray harmful pesticides all over your kitchen.
Nowadays you can have an experienced Full Guard technician come out to you, and based on our investigation, we could place as little as 20ml of gel bait tucked away in gaps and corner in your kitchen. That means not having to spend hours out of the house, and no contaminated food.
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Insect gel baits work by enticing the pests to eat gel bait, which it thinks is a source of food, so it consumes the insecticide contained within.
