Although not a serious health hazard, black ants can cause alarm, perhaps because they seem so organised. But this social behaviour can lead to their undoing. To trigger this, place a spoonful of sugar where foraging ants have been spotted and neat supply lines will quickly form between the food and their nest/colony often well hidden outside under patios, walls or flagstones. This trail can be traced through entry points such as a crack, pipe entry point or ventilator which can then be filled or sealed with fine mesh.

Aerosol sprays are little use with ants because they only will only kill one or two individuals and disperse the rest. Powder or gel ant pesticide can be laid on the last visible trail outside, preferably in a perforated container to avoid harming non target species such as Tiddles the tom cat. Ants will take this down into the nest as food and the nest will be poisoned from within thus avoiding the need to dig up patios or rockeries. As always read and follow the label instructions.