How do I get rid of ants in the house?
It depends on the species. For most ants, a delayed-action bait gel is more effective than a spray: the workers carry it back to the nest, where it's shared with the rest of the colony. At the same time, remove food sources and seal the entry points.
Why do I have ants at home?
Ants mainly come in looking for food, water or shelter. A scout that finds a resource leaves a pheromone trail that the other workers follow, which explains how quickly a line of ants appears.
How do I find the ants' nest?
Watch the trail without disturbing it: it often leads to the entry point and sometimes to the nest. The nest may be under a slab, in a wall, behind a skirting board, under a terrace or, for carpenter ants, in damp wood. Species such as the pharaoh ant often have several nests that are hard to locate.
How do I recognise a carpenter ant?
It's much bigger than the black garden ant, usually 6 to 15 mm, black or black and red, and it can leave very fine sawdust under the woodwork where it tunnels. It prefers damp or already damaged wood.
What's the difference between a black ant and a carpenter ant?
The black garden ant is small (3 to 5 mm) and usually nests outdoors. The carpenter ant is clearly bigger and can settle in damp wooden elements, where it tunnels galleries to build its nest.
Do ants eat wood?
No. Carpenter ants don't eat wood like termites. They only tunnel into it to build their galleries, then push the sawdust outside.
Why do ants always come back?
As long as the colony is active, new workers will keep exploring the same areas. If only the visible trail is destroyed, the colony quickly recreates one. You have to treat the colony, not just the visible ants.
Is white vinegar effective against ants?
Vinegar can erase the pheromone trails and repel ants temporarily, but it destroys neither the nest nor the colony. It's a one-off help, not a solution against an established infestation.
Are ant sprays effective?
They quickly kill the visible workers, but rarely reach the nest. For some species, notably the pharaoh ant, a spray can even fragment the colony and make treatment harder. Bait gels are generally better suited.
Are ants dangerous?
Most species found in homes are mainly a nuisance. Some can contaminate food or become a problem in sensitive settings (hospitals, catering), while carpenter ants can damage woodwork by tunnelling galleries into it.
What if ants come out of the walls or skirting boards?
Avoid spraying insecticide straight away. Try to identify the species, watch their route and place a bait gel along it. If they're coming from woodwork or return despite several treatments, a professional diagnosis is advisable.
Are winged ants a sign of infestation?
Yes. Winged ants are the colony's reproductives. Seeing a few outdoors is normal at certain times of year. But their appearance in numbers indoors can indicate that a colony is established in the building.
How do I stop ants getting into the house?
Keep food in airtight containers, clean up sugary residues quickly, empty the bins regularly and seal the cracks or passages the ants use. Prevention greatly reduces invasions.
Can ants damage a house?
Most can't. However, carpenter ants can tunnel galleries into damp or already damaged wood, and a large colony can cause damage if it stays in place for a long time.
When should I call a professional?
If the ants return despite treatments, if they come out of walls or woodwork, if you see sawdust, if the infestation affects a whole building or if you suspect a pharaoh ant, professional intervention is usually the most effective solution.
