A few ants on a summer day
A handful of workers at a spill during a warm spell, with no clear trail and nothing there the next morning, rarely needs more than a wipe and a lid on the sugar. Washing the spot with warm soapy water and checking the next evening soon shows whether it was a passing visit. Start with why ants keep coming into the kitchen.
The trail keeps coming back
When the same line returns after a week or two of cleaning and sealing food away, the colony is established and close enough to keep sending workers. A trail that jumps from room to room as you block each gap is another sign. That is usually the stage where buying more sprays stops being worthwhile; the reasons are in why ants keep coming back after DIY treatment.
You cannot reach the nest
A colony under a patio laid on concrete, beneath an extension floor, inside a cavity wall or over the fence in a neighbour's garden is out of practical reach. Dealing with it without lifting floors or slabs is exactly the kind of job to hand over. Digging under slabs yourself usually just moves the brood.
Ants indoors in the cold months
Garden ants foraging inside during winter suggest a nest in a warm part of the building, near heating pipes or under a floor. That calls for finding the source rather than chasing workers around the kitchen. It can also mean a species that lives wholly indoors, another reason to hold back on sprays.
Winged ants coming out inside
A summer flight emerging from floorboards, skirting or a wall means the colony is in or under the structure. A few winged ants drifting in through an open window are far less significant. What that looks like is described in why flying ants suddenly appear indoors.
Very small, pale ants
Ants around 2mm long, yellowish or amber, in a warm flat or heated building may be Pharaoh ants. Do not spray them, because repellent products can make the colony split and spread. Get them identified first: Pharaoh ants vs garden ants.
Ants that keep reaching food
If workers are getting into sealed cupboards, the fridge seals or a baby's feeding things despite good storage, waiting for the colony to lose interest is not realistic. The same goes for a kitchen where ants are appearing in several rooms at once. Throw away anything they have got into.
Landlords, flats and shared houses
In blocks and shared houses, the source may lie outside the home affected, so the building as a whole needs considering. Tenants should report ants to their landlord or managing agent early. Landlords with shared houses in Kilburn, or a property standing empty between tenancies in Kenton, can have a colony dealt with before the next occupant finds it. Housing association tenants, such as those in Stonebridge, should use their landlord's usual repairs or pest reporting route.
Business premises
Cafés, food businesses, warehouses and offices need planning around how the site operates. Commercial premises, such as those in Park Royal, are quoted per site, so call to talk it through. Mention the type of business, the size of the premises and where ants have been seen.
Booking for a home
For households, ant control in Brent costs £190 for a flat and £220 for a house. Book ant control and describe what you have seen, where the ants come in and what you have already tried. Still unsure after reading this? Describe the problem and we can say whether it sounds like it needs a visit.
