Ant Control Edinburgh
Dealing with ants in your home or business can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Edinburgh’s ant population is dominated by two key species: garden ants and pharaoh ants. Garden ants are common, creating extensive underground nests and sending their workers into your home in search of food. Pharaoh ants, though less common, are a bigger challenge—nesting in warm spaces like boiler rooms and splitting into new colonies when disturbed.
The good news? There are clear steps to take. At Edinburgh Pest Control Co., begin by identifying the type of ant and the extent of the infestation. From there, we use tried-and-tested insect control techniques to eliminate the problem at its source, ensuring the queen and her colony are fully eradicated. With decades of experience, our local technicians are here to guide you every step of the way. Ready to protect your property? Let’s get started today.
Ant species in Edinburgh
Garden Ants
When ants invade your home, nine times out of ten, they will be garden ants (lasius niger). These indigenous ants can create social communities of many thousands, with each member being part of a group with their own unique role.
Garden ants will create tunnel systems which can stretch on for metres, making them very difficult to deal with without professional expertise.
The ant queen, which can live for decades, will never leave her chamber until the time comes for her to spread to a new nest.
Pharaoh Ants
These ants are an invasive species. They are incredibly hardy and adaptive which has allowed them to spread from the tropics all across the world.
Although not particularly common, these insects are very tricky to address. Doing so without professional assistance is near impossible.
Due to the fact they require a warmer climate to breed, they will often nest alongside boiler systems. This can be a particular issue in large and spacious commercial boilers.
We need to be particularly careful when dealing with this species as when in danger, they will split off into multiple nests. Instead, we employ a substance which sterilises the ant colony, allowing the population to drop off gradually.
How to get rid of ants
When it comes to ant infestations, we appreciate the need for haste and effective results. As such, we will send one of our local technicians based in and around Edinburgh directly to your property.
Every pest situation is different, and we cannot use the exact same plan each and every time to address the problem. We are committed to analysing your individual situation and unique circumstances in order to deal with the issue adequately.
When insects are in your home you want it dealt with immediately; you don’t want to hang around waiting on a return visit. With a wide variety of equipment stocked in our vans at all times, our technicians can typically respond to ant infestations upon arrival.
Additionally, ants are particularly hardy survivors and can often resurface even when you think the job is done. However, our technicians have over two decades in the business and know exactly what it takes to eliminate an ant colony conclusively.
Our company is BPCA approved, compliant with all relevant pest control legislation, and environmentally safe and responsible.
DIY Solutions
There are a number of key reasons as to why DIY techniques often have little effect on ant colonies. They may help you to deal with the ant activity within your home, but this is only treating the symptom and not the disease.
Ant nests are generally hidden away underground and out of sight. Although you can place down store-bought or homemade ant killer or place a tape barrier between the insects and their discovered food source, every fallen worker will quickly be replaced.
So long as the ant queen remains secure in her chamber, the ant colony will survive. She will continue to lay young at an alarming rate and send a continuous stream of workers into your home.
Protecting Your Home Against Ants
While rats and mice may seem small, it is relatively easy to proof your home against these animals. Although they can squeeze through gaps of only an inch or two wide, we can locate these and seal them off from the outside.
Ants, however, are a different matter. At only 1-2mm long, they have a very time finding tiny weaknesses and entranceways within your home. Although you can take measures, it is nigh on impossible to thoroughly proof your home against these small invaders.
Additionally, while you can make a concerted effort to store your food responsibly and make it inaccessible to rodents, ants are a different matter. Due to their small size, they can very easily fit between the gaps in cupboards and other storage areas.
Take the usual steps to avoid pests such as keeping foods stored away properly, and seal as many gaps as possible, but do not be surprised to find ants within your property.
Nuptial Flight
Between June and September, British ant colonies will undertake their nuptial flight season. At this time, the queens will sprout wings and, with a few male companions, will leave the nest to look for new locations to establish a colony.
Many nests within an area have a remarkable ability to coordinate this process, which means multiple queens will begin their flight at the same time. Although this process is impressive, it means there is a good chance that one of these exploring queens will make their home on your property.
Contact Edinburgh Pest Control Co.
For a rapid response to your pest problem from wasps to beetles call Edinburgh Pest Control Co. today on 0131 322 1291 for a FREE Survey or advice.
Alternatively, fill in our contact form, and one of our sales representatives will be in touch as soon as possible.
