Recognising ants: what species do I have?
I get constant calls from April to September about ants in the house. And the first question I always ask is, “What colour are they?” Because that determines how we fight them. Let me explain which species we have in the Netherlands.
Black Way Ant: The House Ant Number 1
This is by far the most common ant in Dutch homes. 90% of my ant jobs are about this species. How do you recognise them?
Appearance: 3-5 millimetres long (the size of a grain of rice). Glossy black to dark brown. Long legs and antennae. Walks in straight lines - typical ant behaviour.
Behaviour: They come in large groups - if you see one, there are hundreds. They follow pheromone trails - that's why they walk in lines. They look for sweet food: sugar, honey, jam, but also fat and protein.
Where do they come in: Through cracks in walls and floors, through window frames and door cracks, through pipe penetrations, sometimes through open windows/doors.
Good news: black road ants are not dangerous. They don't really bite (though they do pinch a bit when you grab them). They don't spread disease. But they are annoying and persistent.
Red Wood ant: Mostly Outdoors, Sometimes Indoors
I see these mostly in gardens, but sometimes they come inside - especially in old houses with wooden floors or beams.
Appearance: 4-9 millimetres (larger than black ants). Reddish-brown body with dark abdomen. Hairy body. More aggressive than black ants.
Behaviour: They build large nests in gardens (ant hills). They come in looking for wood (for nest building) or sweet food. They can bite AND spray formic acid - which stings! They are protected in some areas (not the species in your garden, but their wild relatives).
Red forest ants in your home are thankfully rare. If you do have them, it is usually because there is a nest in or near your home.
Flying Ants: Not a Separate Species!
This is a common mistake. “Johan, I have flying ants!” Well, flying ants are simply black road ants or red wood ants that have reached maturity. They grow wings during the mating season (usually July-August).
What are they: Queens and males flying out to establish new colonies. One day a year (warm day after rain) all the colonies fly out at the same time. They swarm en masse - sometimes you can see hundreds at a time. After mating, the males die. The queens lose their wings and look for a place for a new nest.
If you see a lot of flying ants IN your home, it often means there is a nest IN or near your home. That's a problem.
Other species (Rare)
There are more species, but I rarely see them in houses: yellow meadow ants (live mainly outside in grass), wood ants (in old tree trunks and wood), thief ants (tiny, 1-2mm, yellow - rare).
Would you like to ask a question or make an appointment?
Where are the nests? Detecting ants
The big question at ants in the house: where is the nest? Because if you only fight the ants you see but don't tackle the nest, they will keep coming. I explain how to track down the nest.
Nests Outside The House
Good news: most ants have their nests outside. They only come inside to get food. Where are these nests?
In the garden: Under tiles and patio tiles (where it is warm and sheltered), in cracks in paving, under stones and pots, in compost heaps, along walls and foundations, in weeds and grass.
How to find them: Follow the ants! Literally. See an ant trail? Follow it outside. Where do they disappear? That is the direction of the nest. Look for small piles of sand - those are exits from ant nests. Watch for busy entrances and exits - that's where the nest is close by.
In black road ants, the nest can be 30 metres from your house. They walk such a distance with ease. That is why it is sometimes hard to find.
Nests In or Near the House
This is more serious. If ants are nesting IN your home, you have a bigger problem. Where do they do it?
In walls and floors: In cavity walls (between inner and outer wall), under carpets and parquet, in insulation material, in gaps between bricks/tiles, under the foundation.
In wood: In old wooden beams (especially if they are a bit damp), under window sills, in wooden window frames, in wooden floors (between boards).
How do you know the nest is inside: You see ants all year round (not just in summer). You see flying ants IN the house (large numbers). You see small piles of sand in the house (especially on wooden floors). You sometimes hear them (thousands of ants make sounds in cavities).
Tracking down the Nest: My Trick
Want to find the nest? Here's what I do:
Step 1 - Food test: Put a drop of honey or sugar water on a spot where you see ants. Wait for 10-15 minutes. See where the ants are coming from and going to.
Step 2 - Follow the trail: Follow the ant trail all the way. Inside and outside. Mark the route with crayons. Where does it end? That's where the nest is (or close to it).
Step 3 - Find outputs: For outdoor nests: look for small piles of sand around your house. For indoor nests: look for small openings where ants come out (cracks, holes, seams).
Can't find the nest? Call me. With 20 years of experience, I find the nest within half an hour in 9 out of 10 cases.
Why do ants come inside?
I often get this question: “Johan, why did those ants just come to me?” Let me explain what attracts ants and how to prevent it.
Food: Their main reason
Ants come in for one reason: food. They are looking for sugar and protein for their colony. What attracts them?
Sweet food: Crumbs and spills, open jars of jam, honey, sugar, fruit on the counter, sweet drinks, sticky stains on the floor.
Protein-rich food: Meat scraps, cheese, nuts, animal fat, pet food.
An ant that finds food leaves a pheromone spo or behind. Other ants follow that trail. Before you know it, you have a complete ant highway from your garden to your pantry.
Water: especially in drought
In dry periods, ants come in looking for water. Where do they find it? Leaks and dripping taps, condensation around cooling appliances, under the sink, in bathrooms and toilets, at pet drinking troughs.
Weather and Season
Ant activity peaks in summer. Why? Ants are more active in warm weather. They need more food for their growing colony. In heat, they seek coolness and water indoors. After rain, they look for dry places (sometimes inside).
Usually, you see the most ants from April to September. But if the nest is inside, you can see them all year round.
How to prevent ants
Want to repel ants? These are my tips:
Hygiene: Clean up crumbs and spills immediately, store food in well-sealed jars and boxes, empty the dustbin daily in summer, clean up sticky stains (including on the floor), clean under appliances regularly.
Block access: Seal gaps in walls, floors and window frames, seal holes where pipes go through, repair broken screens, pay attention to door rebates - apply strips if there are large gaps.
Garden: Keep tiles and paving around your house free of weeds, remove pots and stones close to your house, no compost directly against the wall, prune bushes and plants growing against the house (ants use these as bridges).
Would you like to ask a question or make an appointment?
Are ants dangerous or harmful?
Let me be honest: ants are not really dangerous, but annoying. And in some cases, they can cause damage. I explain what the risks are.
Health risks (Minimal)
Good news: ants do not spread diseases like cockroaches or flies. They are quite hygienic to pests. But there are a few concerns:
Food contamination: Ants walk through your kitchen cupboards and over your food. Everything they walk over is technically contaminated. In large numbers, this can be a problem.
Allergies: Some people are allergic to ant bites (rare). In red forest ants, the formic acid can cause irritation (burning sensation on the skin).
Hygiene: In hospitality or healthcare, every ant is one too many. The food authority can impose penalties for ant infestations.
Structural Damage (At Nests Indoors)
When ants nest IN your home, they can cause damage. Not as bad as woodworm, but still annoying:
Wood deterioration: Some ants (such as wood ants) dig tunnels in wood. They do not eat the wood (termites do that), but make tunnels. In large colonies, this can weaken wood.
Insulation damage: Ants in cavity walls make nests in insulation material. This reduces the insulation value. In severe cases, the insulation has to be replaced.
Electronics: I have found ant nests in: sockets, switches, electrical appliances, behind the fridge (hot!). This can cause short circuits. Rare, but it happens.
Nuisance (Main problem)
The biggest problem with ants? Nuisance. They're everywhere: in your kitchen cupboards, on your kitchen counter, in your pantry, sometimes in your bed (if you've eaten in bed at night).
And when you see one, there are hundreds. That is frustrating and unhygienic. That's why I fully understand why people want them gone.
Frequently asked questions about Ant Recognition
I often get these questions about ants in the house. Want to know more? Call for personal advice.
In 90% of cases, they are black road ants - small (3-5mm), shiny black ants that walk in lines. They come from a nest outside and look for food inside. Red wood ants (larger, reddish-brown) are rarer in houses. Flying ants are not a distinct species - they are common ants that have grown wings (mating season, July-August). If you see lots of flying ants INSIDE, the nest is probably in or near your home. Unsure which species? Take a photo and app me - then I can see it and give advice.
Mostly outdoors: under tiles and patio paving, in cracks in paving, along walls and foundations, under stones and pots. The nest can be 30 metres from your house! How to find it. Follow the ants. Put down a drop of honey and see where they go. If the nest is inside (more serious), you will find it in: cavity walls, under floors, in wooden beams, in insulation. You know the nest is inside if you have ants all year round and/or see lots of flying ants inside.
No, not really dangerous. Black road ants do not spread disease and hardly bite. They are mostly a nuisance. Red wood ants can bite and spray formic acid - that stings, though. But even these are not dangerous, just annoying. Indirect risk: food contamination (they walk all over your food), and for nests inside, they can damage insulation or sometimes interfere with electronic devices (rare). In catering establishments, they are a hygiene problem. But for most households: nuisance, no real danger.
Peak season is April-September. Why exactly now? In warm weather, ants are more active. Their colony grows fast, so they need more food. They found something tasty at your place (sugar, crumbs, fruit). A scout ant found food and left a pheromone spo or behind. Now hundreds follow that trail. Sometimes they come in after rain (look for dry place). Or in heat (seek water and coolness). The solution? Find and remove the food source, clean the pheromone spo or with vinegar or suds, block their access, and tackle the nest if it remains.
If the nest is properly handled: no. But beware: there are often several nests in a garden. If you control one nest but there are more in the area, other colonies can take the empty space. This is why prevention is so important: block access routes (kit gaps), remove food sources (clear away crumbs, store food properly), make pheromone spo r away with vinegar. In professional control, I often tackle several nests at once and create a barrier around your home. This prevents returns more effectively.
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