Ant Pest Control Newbury

Ants are an incredibly irritating pest, and, unfortunately, an ant infestation can develop quickly. All it takes is for one ant to enter your home, locate a food source and send a signal back to its colony. In no time, one ant can develop into an invasion of insects, which can contaminate your property and disrupt your life. Ants carry diseases, so ant infestations can cause major issues.

At Countrywide, we understand how quickly an infestation can happen. Therefore, our ant pest control service is not just about eliminating the nuisance; it is a crucial defence in protecting your home and health.

If you suspect you have an ant problem, contact us today at 0800 078 7255 or book your visit for a long-term solution that will get rid of your ant problem for good.

Signs of an Ant Infestation 

Identifying an ant infestation early will help to minimise property damage and maintain a hygienic environment. Additionally, a smaller colony of ants is much easier to deal with; therefore, treatment may be cheaper and will take effect sooner.

Some of the most common signs to look out for include:

  • Live Ants: This may seem obvious, but identifying large numbers of insects on your property is a definitive sign of a pest problem. In their search for food, ants are commonly found in pantries, kitchens, utilities or food preparation areas. As a result, they risk contaminating or spoiling food and transmitting diseases.
  • Ant Trails: Scouting ants secrete pheromones, which direct other ants to a food source for nourishment. So, if you see ants marching in a trial, your problem could worsen exponentially without professional intervention.
  • Ant Nests: Even before ants enter your home, you may have noticed them outside on your patio or lawn. Look out for small mounds of dirt, sand, or soil. These mounds indicate an ant nest, and you could have thousands of ants thriving just below the surface, waiting to come into your property.
  • Ant Bites And Skin Rashes: Some people are highly reactive to ant bites, which can lead to physical discomfort or anaphylactic reactions. If your family has begun getting itchy, red bites on their skin, we recommend calling a pest controller to conduct a full inspection.

A quick response will help safeguard your health and maintain a risk-free home. Get in touch for expert pest control services that will get rid of ants for good.

Black ants working together to find food

Common Ant Species In The UK

There are over 13,000 ant species, with an estimated 20 quadrillion ants worldwide. Ants outnumber humans, so your chances of encountering an ant infestation are exceptionally high.

Here are some of the most common ants you can expect to see in the UK:

Garden Ants

Garden ants (Lasius niger) are also known as black ants and are the most common ants in your garden. They typically nest in soil, lawns, and under paving stones and live in colonies of between 4,000 – 15,000 ants. These insects are 4mm to 5mm long and have a black or dark brown body.

Tropical Ants

Tropical Ants such as pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) and ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum) come from warmer climates. Therefore, they are a pest commonly found in heated buildings with moisture, such as hospitals, hotels and high-rise flats.

Pharaoh ants feature a yellow, slightly translucent body with black eyes, measuring approximately 2-3mm. Ghost ants are substantially smaller at just 1.3mm to 1.5mm long, featuring a white body with a brown head.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants (Camponotus) are indigenous to forested parts of the world. They live inside wood. Unlike termites, they do not consume wood but instead burrow into it and discard the material outside their nest. They favour dead or damp wood, excavating it to form their home.

This species is substantially larger than ghost ants, measuring between 0.8cm to 2.5cm in size. Typically, they have a black or dark brown colouring, sometimes with red or yellow variations.

Noticed Ants in Your House or Garden? 

If you have identified ants in your home, you should take the appropriate steps to eradicate the infestation. The quickest and most effective solution is to call a professional pest controller. Here at Countrywide, we are pest control experts delivering fast and successful solutions for ants and other insects to keep your property safe.

Treatment

Our fully qualified pest control technicians track all ant entry points and apply an insecticide treatment directly to the nests for maximum results. We may also use specialist gel bait treatments, depending on the severity or location of your pest infestation. Our aim is to kill the queen ant to stop the colony from reproducing and returning. All solutions are safe for your family and pets and will work quickly to eliminate the unwanted ant colony.

Aftercare

During our ant removal treatment, we will block all ant entry points to protect against insect pests and minimise the potential of a re-infestation. In addition, our team will recommend preventative solutions to protect your home in the future. These include:

  • Storing food in airtight containers
  • Cleaning up sticky, sweet substances immediately
  • Checking for ingress points and blocking them

Commercial Ant Control

Ants in your business are a severe health concern that requires immediate attention. Organisations operating in the food industry, such as restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes, are legally required to keep food preparation areas sterile and free from contamination. Failure to comply could lead to business closure, costly fines, reputation damage and profit loss.

At Countrywide pest control, we provide 24/7 ant control to all Newbury, Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire businesses. Our commercial pest control services are discreet and efficient, with guaranteed pest eradication. Our pest control services for businesses will remove all pest problems and offer preventative solutions to keep your business safe.

Ants in your home? We're here to help

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Why Countrywide?

  • Your local pest control service in Newbury, Reading, Bracknell, Basingstoke, Farnborough and Southampton
  • Fair pricing with fast, guaranteed results.
  • Full British Pest Control Association Member
  • Which? Trusted Trader
  • Fully trained (BPCA) and insured with safe working practices
  • We offer a 100% Guarantee on our pest control treatments

Areas we cover

Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire

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0800 078 7255

Hampshire, Surrey

Contact the regional office:

0800 078 7280

Your local pest control team in Berkshire

Frequently Asked Questions

Our experts have answered some of our most frequently asked questions, so you have the knowledge to tackle your ant problem strategically.

What are the most common ants in the UK?

Black ants are the most common species found in homes and gardens across the UK. In the summer, the sexually mature of each gender grow wings and become what are known as flying ants, which can cause serious issues for homes and business premises across Newbury and Berkshire.

Can ants damage my property?

Ants can be extremely damaging to property. By nature, carpenter ants will tunnel through wood to build their nests. Unfortunately, this tunnelling can be challenging to spot as it is hidden inside the wooden structure. Look out for wood fragments or sawdust to try to catch the infestation early. Late pest detection could result in excessive property damage or costly furniture repairs.

How much does ant pest control cost?

Our highly effective ant pest control service starts from £80 plus VAT (for one visit) for domestic properties. As part of our comprehensive service, we will implement gel baits near the nest and use a residual insecticide spray if necessary. Call our expert ant removal team at 0800 078 7255 to receive your ant pest control in Newbury quote.

How do I prevent ants in my house and garden?

Like all pests, ants are attracted to food and water. Therefore, the most effective prevention technique is eliminating that food source by cleaning up regularly and storing your food in airtight containers. Another recommendation is to block all possible entry points by sealing cracks in your brickwork or gaps around pipework.

To minimise ants in your garden, ensure bins do not have holes and that the lids can close firmly. Furthermore, animal waste must be cleaned daily, as ants will feed on the protein found in faeces.

How hard is it to get rid of an ant infestation?

Most ant colonies are eradicated within one visit. During your first appointment, we will implement the treatment. Follow-up visits may be required to ensure complete success. For larger ant infestations, treatment may last several weeks due to the severity of the infestation.

Are ants dangerous?

Although ants can bite, they are not considered dangerous insects. If an ant feels threatened, it can pinch your skin and release a chemical called formic acid, which can cause irritation. However, UK ants are typically harmless and will not cause long-lasting or dangerous reactions. That being said, they do spread diseases and can contaminate food products when foraging for morsels, so ant problems should be dealt with proactively.

Are ants a summer pest?

UK ants are more active during Spring and Summer as they need to collect food for their hibernation in the winter. Additionally, Flying Ant Day is when winged male and queen black garden ants take flight in search of a new colony. Although this does not happen on one specific day of the year, the name references the abundance of these pests, usually on a specific day in mid-July to August.

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