Carpenter ants degrade damp wood. Pharaoh ants contaminate food and medical equipment in healthcare buildings. Transfer bait treatments (ingested by workers and passed to the queen) are more effective than contact sprays.
Social insect · Lasius niger / Monomorium pharaonis
The black garden ant (Lasius niger) colonises outdoor spaces and masonry. The pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis), heat-loving, prefers heated interiors. A colony numbers 50,000 to 500,000 individuals.
Carpenter ants degrade damp wood. Pharaoh ants contaminate food and medical equipment in healthcare buildings. Transfer bait treatments (ingested by workers and passed to the queen) are more effective than contact sprays.
Questions fréquentes
Why do ants come back every year?
Contact spray treatment doesn't reach the queen, who keeps laying deep in the nest. A transfer bait (ingested by workers and carried back to the colony) is the only method that destroys the queen. Annual recurrence means the nest was never eliminated.
Are pharaoh ants more problematic?
Yes. The pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) is heat-loving and colonises heated buildings year-round. It's polygynous (several queens, several connected nests) and responds to contact treatments by budding — the nest splits and spreads. A specific slow-transfer bait is essential.
Are ants dangerous to structures?
The carpenter ant (Camponotus spp.) excavates damp wood to nest, worsening moisture-related damage. It doesn't eat the wood but weakens it structurally. Its presence often signals untreated water ingress.
Problème de ants ?
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