Do any of you have a big problem this year with ants indoors?

I know not an exciting thread by any means but via my back patio doors about two months ago I woke to about 30 black ants in through the pvc door trim, after powders, sprays, diluted lemon washing up liquid nothing worked but then I bought a few bait traps & although it took about 7 days it cured the problem albeit the garden & patio had a lot but not unusual I don’t think for this time of the year.

In 14 years of living here never had an issue, I’m on the case outside too to disrupt their trails etc but after no issues indoors for a good 5 weeks this morning I again had the issue same way in although sealant replaced recently etc this time though flying ants, not flying thank goodness but moving about & many dead once in, these ignore the bait trap but on & off all day it’s driven me to despair.

Past few weeks when I asked my neighbours either side they have no problems, listening to them you’d think they’ve never seen an ant in their lives Excuse all the waffle but any members have this problem & more so particularly this year?

I should say I’ve tried everything to deter with advice from Mister Google & the bait traps worked on the ‘normal’ black ants although had the odd one in

Salt on the bit of doorstep directly under the door usually blocks them - although it needs replenishing regularly.

Haven't had any problem for a few years, though.

Ivor said:

Past few weeks when I asked my neighbours either side they have no problems, listening to them you’d think they’ve never seen an ant in their lives

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Same with my neighbour, asking me how I was dealing with the ants - my answer was 'what ants'?
It was distressing for them as their front room was infested as they came through a vent, my vent was about 8ft away, but still not ants. I think they must be after something food wise.

Not ants, but this is my laundry room

We had loads on Thursday morning which is very unusual, I can't remember the last time we had an issue with them.

The heat has caused an explosion in the number of moths too!

Yes, had a bit of an issue in the spring. Couldn't really work out their entry route, but a few days hoovering them up and washing the floors seemed to do the trick.

Thanks for the replies so far, late last night had a few dozen of flying ants (not flying) plus some black ants venturing around kitchen, dreaded coming down this morning but only found a few struggling around & about 12 dead. I’m baffled.

Directly outside on the patio there are dozens dead. It’s gone on for about two months on & off & I’m tempted to contact a local pest control company as a couple of months yet of summer weather to come & was reading they can be a problem through to October.

Plenty of ants outdoors which keep trying to burrow under the brickwork at the front of our house. We have called the council out several times over the years. It usually takes 2 or 3 visits to kill them off but they always come back the following year.

Old Yard Dog said:

Plenty of ants outdoors which keep trying to burrow under the brickwork at the front of our house. We have called the council out several times over the years. It usually takes 2 or 3 visits to kill them off but they always come back the following year.

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The council deal with that for you or there’s a charge?

I'd personally only deal with ants that get indoors; if they in the garden they are quite beneficial for the ecosystem.

Nests can be surprisingly large, so unless they're getting in through the gap under a door or something, it's possible a single part of a nest has come up somewhere underneath the house. I've also known ants to nest within cavity walls.

Always have problems in the high summer mainly due to living near heathland but this year seems especially bad and much earlier than normal. Not sure if I’ve got a number of separate nests or one very large one as they seem to move locations very quickly after treatment is put down

I remember years ago having a large ant‘s nest under the back lawn, quite a distance from the house. It wasn’t really visible until the soil above changed its nature, and the fresh grass growth after mowing just didn’t look right compared to around it. Only when I knelt down and closely inspected the area ants were running in all directions. It first needed a major dose of ant powder, then I had to dig out a circle of about 2ft diameter to about 9” depth, it had a consistency of fine sand, and replaced it with new soil and re-seeded.

So if you can’t find an obvious nest right near the house, it might be a bit further away

stuart81 said:

Always have problems in the high summer mainly due to living near heathland but this year seems especially bad and much earlier than normal. Not sure if I’ve got a number of separate nests or one very large one as they seem to move locations very quickly after treatment is put down

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Do you actually have them coming into the property? The last 7-10 days it’s been mainly flying ants & once in most die immediately, tomorrow I’ll seal the smallest seams in the pvc trims, I seem to have filled all gaps outside on the wall but then I’m wondering if it’ll just make them move along & still get in somewhere?

swt_passenger said:

I remember years ago having a large ant‘s nest under the back lawn, quite a distance from the house. It wasn’t really visible until the soil above changed its nature, and the fresh grass growth after mowing just didn’t look right compared to around it. Only when I knelt down and closely inspected the area ants were running in all directions. It first needed a major dose of ant powder, then I had to dig out a circle of about 2ft diameter to about 9” depth, it had a consistency of fine sand, and replaced it with new soil and re-seeded.

So if you can’t find an obvious nest right near the house, it might be a bit further away

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I’ve probably got too much time on my hands but for weeks now this has dominated my days

Not Ants but clothes moths, they have come out of nowhere!

route101 said:

Not Ants but clothes moths, they have come out of nowhere!

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As bad in many ways as it’s the getting rid of insects indoors, reply #4 by @Crithylum shows a moth issue too.

route101 said:

Not Ants but clothes moths, they have come out of nowhere!

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Ladybirds have made an appearance in our household.