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Home  /  Countries  /  A Bumper Year For Ants?
04 July 2011

A Bumper Year For Ants?

Written by Jackie
Countries ants, black garden ants 3 Comments

Black garden antsMy colleague in Ireland made a casual comment the other day to say it is going to be a bumper year for ants in Ireland. When I quizzed him about this, he said that in his experience there appears to be a surge in ant related call-outs every 3 to 4 years, and it just so happens that 2011 is the year for ants.

Apparently 2010 bumper year was related to treatments for wasps and wasp nests, which follow a similar 3 to 4 year pattern.

The most common ant we tend to find in our gardens or occasionally in our homes is the Black Garden ant (Lasius niger). Thankfully this is not a particularly aggressive ant. I have heard that they can bite you, but I think this is quite uncommon. They are just simply a pain in the home, as you just know that where there is one ant there is highly likely to be many, many more. In fact one single ant nest could be made up of a million ants!

Red Fire AntsThe Red Imported Fire ant on the other hand, which is currently causing concern over in Southern US is a far bigger pest and would cause me a great deal of worry.

Recently we have discovered a very obvious ant nest set up directly by the entrance to our greenhouse. Thankfully this nest is located at the furthest point away from our house, so am not too concerned with any ants deciding to forage indoors.

We are also approaching the flying ants season. In Ireland, I am told that swarming flying ants can be spotted at any time in June or July, when the weather conditions are just right – warm and muggy conditions appear to be very suitable. These swarms usually only last a day and should not be cause for alarm, as they are simply performing their “nuptial flight”, in other words, this is when they mate. I do think it’s rather sad, how after mating, the ants lose their wings and the males die. The female is left to find a location to lay her eggs and start a new ant colony. However she will never fly again!


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Jackie

I joined UK Marketing for Rentokil Pest Control in January 2009. What an enlightenment that has been….cheese mites, bed bugs and confused flour beetles, I never knew such things existed but I’ve certainly learnt how Rentokil expertise and experience eliminates them. Now my mission is to use the website to show the population of the UK that whatever their pest problem, Rentokil have the solution. Life outside of work revolves around my husband and kids, so life is pretty hectic!

3 Comments

  1. Alicia Reply to Alicia to Alicia" aria-label=' Reply to Alicia to Alicia'> Reply to Alicia
    July 4, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    This year I have accidently uncovered two ants nests. Normally I only get one in the garden, so maybe there is something to the pattern of pests. I haven’t had a wasp nest either this year and last year I had three!

  2. Brigitta Reply to Brigitta to Brigitta" aria-label=' Reply to Brigitta to Brigitta'> Reply to Brigitta
    July 5, 2011 at 6:42 am

    Well we discovered another ants nest in our big pot of mint! We couldn’t understand why the mint was suffering so much so we went to put in the ground and realised the possible cause! I would have thought or hoped that ants might stay away from such strong smelling herbs but obviously not.

  3. Alicia Reply to Alicia to Alicia" aria-label=' Reply to Alicia to Alicia'> Reply to Alicia
    July 6, 2011 at 2:10 pm

    Ants are supposed to hate mint! That dispels that myth!

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