How to Get Rid of Ants in Reading: Effective Control Guide

A few ants marching across your kitchen counter might not seem like a big deal. But ants rarely travel alone. Behind that single line of ants is usually a colony of thousands, working together, following a scent trail straight to your food.

Reading’s mix of gardens, older housing, and warm summers makes it a comfortable home for several ant species. Whether you’re dealing with a few ants near the bins or a full swarm on Flying Ant Day, this guide from Reading Pest Control covers everything you need to know. We’ll walk through why ants come indoors, how to identify what species you’re dealing with, proven DIY and professional treatment methods, and how to stop them coming back for good.

Why Do Ants Come Into Homes in Reading?

Ants are always searching for three things: food, water, and shelter. Your home offers all three, especially during dry spells or after rain, when outdoor conditions push ants to look elsewhere.

Common Reasons Ants Enter Your Home

1. Food left out – crumbs, spilled sugar, pet food bowls, and unsealed bins
2. Standing water – leaking pipes, damp bathrooms, or condensation
3. Warmth – ants seek shelter indoors during cooler or wet weather
4. Easy entry points – gaps around doors, windows, cracks in brickwork, and utility pipes
5. Nearby nests – colonies under patios, paving, or garden beds close to your foundation

Once a scout ant finds a food source in your home, it lays down a pheromone trail. Within hours, dozens more ants can follow that exact same path straight to your kitchen.

Common Ant Species Found in Reading and the UK

Not all ants behave the same way, and identifying the species helps determine the right treatment. Here are the ants you’re most likely to encounter around Reading.

1. Black Garden Ant (Lasius niger)

This is by far the most common ant in the UK, found in nearly every garden. Workers are dark brown-black and around 4–5mm long, while queens can reach 15mm. Black garden ants nest under paving slabs, in flower beds, and beneath lawns. They prefer sweet foods but will also take protein when available. They do not sting.

2. Red Ant (Myrmica rubra)

Reddish-brown in colour, red ants favour moist environments like woodlands and damp garden areas. Unlike black garden ants, they can be aggressive and deliver a painful sting if their nest is disturbed.

3. Pharaoh Ant (Monomorium pharaonis)

A much smaller, pale yellow ant that thrives indoors, particularly in heated buildings. Pharaoh ants are notoriously difficult to control because disturbing their nest with the wrong treatment can cause the colony to split into multiple new nests, making the infestation worse rather than better.

4. Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus)

Pale yellowish-brown and typically found in open grassland and lawns, building small earth mounds. These ants are less likely to invade homes but can create unsightly mounds in gardens.

5. Wood Ant

Some wood ant species in the UK are protected by law. If you spot a large, dome-shaped mound built from pine needles and twigs in a wooded area, it’s important to get proper identification before any control measures are considered, since removing a protected species’ nest may not be permitted.

Not sure what species you’re dealing with? Our Ant Control page has more detail on identification and treatment specific to each type.

Signs of an Ant Infestation

Catching an infestation early makes it far easier to deal with. Watch for these signs:

1. Visible trails of ants moving in a consistent line, especially near food or water sources
2. Small piles of soil or sand near skirting boards, patios, or garden edges, showing nest entrances
3. Rustling sounds inside walls, particularly with larger ant species
4. Discarded wings around windowsills after a swarm
5. Ants appearing in unexpected places like bathrooms, bedrooms, or electrical sockets

Flying Ant Day: What It Is and Why It Happens

If you’ve ever stepped outside on a warm July afternoon to find your garden suddenly full of swarming, winged insects, you’ve witnessed Flying Ant Day. This isn’t a single fixed date. It’s a short window, usually between late June and early August, when mature ant colonies release their winged queens and males, known as alates, to mate in the air.

Around 90% of the winged ants seen during UK swarms belong to the black garden ant, Lasius niger. The larger ants in the swarm are the queens, which can grow up to 15mm long. After mating, fertilised queens land, shed their wings, and search for a new spot to start a colony, which is often exactly how a new nest ends up under your patio or lawn.

Is Flying Ant Day Something to Worry About?

Not usually. It’s a natural, short-lived event, and most swarms disperse within a day or two. However, if you notice flying ants indoors repeatedly, or large numbers appearing every year in the same spot, it’s a sign of an established nest nearby that’s worth treating.

Flying Ants vs Flying Termites

Many people panic when they see swarming winged insects, assuming the worst. It’s worth knowing that termites are not established in the UK, so what you’re almost always seeing is a flying ant swarm, not termites. You can compare the two in our guide on how to get rid of termites, which explains the key differences in appearance and behaviour.

Are Ants Harmful or Dangerous?

For the most part, ants in Reading homes are a nuisance rather than a health risk.

1. Black garden ants do not sting and are not known to spread disease, though they can contaminate food while foraging.
2. Red ants can deliver a painful sting if provoked, particularly if a nest is disturbed.
3. Pharaoh ants are a more serious concern in places like hospitals or care homes, as they can spread bacteria between unsanitary and sanitary areas.
4. Large nests under paving or foundations can, over time, cause minor structural issues by eroding soil and undermining slabs.

Effective DIY Tips to Get Rid of Ants

Before calling in professional help, these steps can reduce ant activity and, in smaller cases, solve the problem entirely.

1. Remove Food and Water Sources

• Wipe down counters and floors after every meal
• Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers
• Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes promptly
• Empty bins regularly and keep lids tightly closed

2. Block Entry Points

• Seal cracks around doors, windows, and utility pipes with caulk
• Check brickwork and render for small gaps ants can use to get inside
• Fit brush strips or draft excluders under exterior doors

3. Use Natural Deterrents

Certain scents disrupt the pheromone trails ants rely on to navigate:

• White vinegar and water spray along entry points
• Cinnamon or coffee grounds near doorways
• Peppermint oil diluted in water

These work best as a short-term deterrent rather than a full solution, especially with an established nest.

4. Try Ant Bait Stations

Unlike sprays that only kill ants on contact, bait stations let worker ants carry poisoned bait back to the colony, gradually affecting the whole nest, including the queen. This is far more effective for long-term control than surface sprays alone.

5. Keep Gardens Tidy

• Trim back plants and shrubs touching your house, which ants use as bridges
• Clear leaf litter and mulch away from foundations
• Move compost bins and log piles further from the house

6. Avoid Disturbing Nests Without a Plan

With species like Pharaoh ants, disturbing a nest with the wrong product can cause it to split into several smaller colonies, spreading the infestation rather than solving it. If you’re not certain what species you’re dealing with, it’s safer to get a proper identification first.

When to Call a Professional Ant Control Service

DIY methods work well for small, occasional ant sightings. But it’s time to call in the professionals when:

1. You’ve tried sprays and baits with no lasting results
2. Ants keep returning to the same area, indicating a large or well-established nest
3. You’re dealing with a species like Pharaoh ants, which need a specific treatment approach
4. Ants are nesting inside cavity walls or under foundations
5. You want a guaranteed, long-term solution instead of repeated DIY attempts

Reading Pest Control offers professional ant treatment across homes and businesses in Reading. Our certified technicians correctly identify the species first, then apply a targeted treatment that deals with the entire colony, not just the ants you can see.

Book a Free Ant Inspection Today

How Reading Pest Control Treats Ant Infestations

Our process is designed to solve the problem completely, not just move it elsewhere.

1. Free Survey – We inspect your property to identify the ant species and locate nest entry points
2. Tailored Treatment Plan – We choose the safest, most effective method based on species and nest location
3. Safe Application – Our certified technicians apply treatment carefully, protecting children, pets, and plants
4. Follow-Up Support – We advise on prevention and check that the colony has been fully dealt with

Every treatment comes with our 3-month warranty, giving you confidence the problem is properly resolved. Explore our complete range of pest control services, or find answers to more common questions on our FAQs page.

Long-Term Ant Prevention Tips

Once your ant problem is under control, these habits will help keep it that way.

1. Do a monthly check of your home’s exterior for new cracks or gaps
2. Keep kitchen surfaces clean and food sealed year-round, not just during ant season
3. Manage garden vegetation so branches and plants don’t touch your walls
4. Address any damp or drainage issues quickly, since moisture attracts multiple pest types, not just ants
5. Book a seasonal inspection ahead of summer, when ant activity and Flying Ant Day swarms peak

Conclusion

Ants are one of the most common pest problems Reading homeowners face, especially through the warmer months when Flying Ant Day brings sudden, large swarms. While a few ants on the kitchen counter might feel manageable, the colony behind them can be far bigger than it looks, and the wrong treatment can sometimes make things worse rather than better.

Reading Pest Control has the local knowledge and certified expertise to correctly identify your ant problem and treat it at the source. From black garden ants under your patio to a Pharaoh ant infestation that needs careful handling, our team is ready to help.

Contact Reading Pest Control today for a free ant inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the most common ant species in Reading?

The black garden ant (Lasius niger) is by far the most common species found in Reading gardens and homes. It is dark brown to black, does not sting, and prefers sweet foods.

2. When is Flying Ant Day in Reading?

Flying Ant Day usually falls between late June and early August, with the biggest swarms often appearing in the second or third week of July, though the exact timing depends on the weather.

3. Are the ants in my house dangerous to my family?

Most common UK ants, including black garden ants, are harmless and do not sting. Red ants can sting if disturbed, and Pharaoh ants can pose a hygiene risk in sensitive settings like kitchens.

4. Why do I keep seeing ants even after cleaning my kitchen?

If ants keep appearing, there is likely an active nest nearby sending out scout ants. Cleaning removes the food source, but the colony itself still needs to be treated.

5. Can I get rid of an ant nest myself?

Small nests can sometimes be managed with bait stations and sealing entry points. Larger, established nests, or difficult species like Pharaoh ants, usually need professional treatment for a lasting result.

6. Do ant sprays actually work?

Surface sprays kill the ants you can see but rarely reach the nest or the queen. Bait stations are more effective because worker ants carry the bait back to the whole colony.

7. Are flying ants the same as termites?

No. Flying ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae, and wings of different sizes. Termites, which are not established in the UK, have a straight waist, straight antennae, and equal-length wings.

8. How do I stop ants coming back after treatment?

Seal entry points, keep food sealed and surfaces clean, fix any damp issues, and consider a seasonal inspection with Reading Pest Control before ant activity peaks in summer.

9. Is it normal to find an ant nest under my patio?

Yes, this is one of the most common nesting spots for black garden ants in Reading gardens. It’s usually harmless to the structure but can lead to indoor ant activity if left untreated.

10. How much does professional ant control cost in Reading?

Cost depends on the size of the infestation and the ant species involved. Reading Pest Control offers a free survey and a clear quote before any treatment begins.