Ants cause problems primarily when they search in buildings for food or water and when they construct nests in buildings and gardens. When searching for food, they can be attracted to a wide range of products with different species preferring sweets, meats, fats or oils. They will also search indoors for water during dry periods. When desirable items are found many species will recruit fellow nest mates to help gather the food and return it to the nest. This can result in large numbers of ants appearing over a short period of time.
Ants can build their nest practically anywhere. In almost all cases nests are limited to pre-existing cavities or spaces between objects or in rotten wood and seldom will ants attack solid structures.
They generally will not cause structural damage to buildings but will take advantage of existing deterioration.
Ants often move nest sites when disturbed, or with a change in food supply. This can make control and remove of ants difficult. They may leave for short periods only to return later when a new food source is located and they can recolonise from nearby nests very quickly. Controlling ants on the outdoors is mostly done by spraying appropriate eco-friendly insecticides. Indoors, gel baits are preferred. In order to achieve permanent results, it is crucial that the one applying the insecticide or bait has the knowledge and experience to choose the appropriate formulation and the proper way to apply it
