Ants and Cockroaches.

Ants

Description

There are two species of ant commonly encountered in the UK:

The Garden Ant has a black segmented body, the workers are 5mm in length and the queen is 15mm long and brown in colour.  Their nests are found in soil, lawns and close to buildings.

The Pharaoh’s Ant, which is of tropical origin, is a smaller species; the workers are only 2mm long, the queen 5mm long and both are yellow brown in colour, sometimes with a darker abdomen.

Distribution

The Garden Ant is found throughout Britain and will nest in gardens and around buildings often entering premises in search of food.  The Pharaoh’s Ant by contrast requires a very warm environment and has adapted itself to life in large heated buildings such as hospitals, hotels and flats.

Significance

The Garden Ant is a nuisance because of its foraging habit but it does not carry germs or spread disease.  Garden ants are attracted to sugary food; the presence of ants in food although unpleasant, does not in itself constitute a health risk.

Pharaoh’s ants are of greater significance as they carry harmful germs which they pick up when feeding on decomposing food, faecal matter and when coming into contact with drains and hospital dressings.  They are a particular problem in hospitals and are difficult to eradicate.

Life cycle

Garden ants mate in flight when winged males and females swarm between mid-July and mid-September.

After mating the male dies and the female loses her wings and buries herself in the soil over the winter.  In late spring the female lays eggs which hatch into white larvae in 3-4 weeks.  The larvae are fed by the queen and when fully grown pupate.  The worker ants which emerge from the pupae feed new larvae and the queen.

The life cycle is complete in two months and, in favourable conditions, the nest may persist for several years.  In contrast, the Pharaoh’s ant develops several colonies within each nest with many queens.  As the old nest becomes overcrowded, new colonies are formed by eggs and larvae carried by adults and workers.  The life cycle is the same as that of the Garden ant but the Pharaoh’s ant, which favours heated buildings, is not affected by seasonal changes.  The ants’ ability to form many colonies make them difficult to control.

Treatment

Nest in soil can be far more extensive than the area around the surface and an effective treatment is professional spraying although where possible it is best to leave nest sites alone and call in APC on the number below. Messing with the nests or trying to treat the problem yourselves can result in bigger problems a spread of the ants.

Cockroaches

Description

Cockroaches are insects which range in size from 10-23mm in length.  They have long whip-like antennae and two pairs of wings.  The two species most commonly found species are:

They can be distinguished by their size and colour; the Oriental cockroach being larger and darker brown in colour.  The Oriental cockroach, unlike the German variety, is unable to climb smooth vertical surfaces.

Distribution

Cockroaches can be found in premises where food is stored or handled.  They are nocturnal insects and will spend most of the day hiding in cracks and around drains and service ducting.  Infestations may be introduced into premises in laundry and food deliveries.
These days cockroaches are not only found in commercial kitchens etc. they are far more frequently popping up in houses in towns and cities.

Significance

Cockroaches carry food poisoning germs on their bodies and are responsible for the spread of dysentery and gastro-enteritis.  They will feed on almost anything, including faecal matter and food for human consumption.  Contamination will occur when the insect comes into contact with food or work surfaces or through faecal contamination of foodstuffs.

Life Cycle

The female cockroach produces up to eight purse-like egg cases at monthly intervals.  The egg cases are thick walled and are 6-12mm in length and may contain up to 30 eggs.  The nymphs of the German cockroach emerge from their eggs in 2-4 weeks and those of the Oriental cockroach in 6-12 weeks.  The nymphs are similar in appearance to the adult, but smaller.  As the nymph develops and grows, it moults.  This usually occurs 5-10 times during its development which may take up to two years to complete until the insect reaches maturity.  The life cycle is complete in a further four months for Oriental cockroaches and nine months for the German cockroach.

You will need professional help in treating a cockroach infestation if you run a commercial food premises.  You can assist by ensuring that your premises are clean and that there are no food sources and hiding places for cockroaches.  Pest Control companies will treat your premises with an insecticidal spray around the boundary of the rooms, at the junction between walls and floor, behind equipment and in vents and ducting.  The treated area should be left undisturbed for as long as possible.  It will be necessary for them to re-treat your premises to kill any new nymphs as they emerge from their eggs.

Treatment

Sticky traps will be employed to determine the worst effected areas and to monitor the progress of the treatment.

Additionally Residual spray treatments are carried out which include an insect growth regulator to break the lifecycle of the insect and also cockroach gel is applied to cracks and crevices ensuring no further outbreaks.