🐜 Fun Ant Facts: What’s Really Going on Beneath Your Garden or Kitchen Floor?

Fun Ant Facts: Ants may look small and harmless, but their nests are anything but simple. If you’ve ever spotted a few ants scurrying across your kitchen tiles in Didcot or seen them gathering around patio cracks in Wallingford, there’s likely a whole colony operating out of sight.

In this post fun ant facts, we explore the fascinating and often problematic world of ant nests—what they are, how they grow, and why professional ant control is the only real way to stop them.

Table of Contents

• What Is an Ant Nest?
• Where Do Ants Build Their Nests in UK Homes?
• How Big Can an Ant Nest Be?
• Types of Ants and Their Nesting Habits
• How Do Ant Colonies Grow?
• Why Surface Sprays Don’t Work
• How to Get Rid of Ant Nests
• Ant Control in Didcot and Wallingford
• Final Thoughts

What Is an Ant Nest?

An ant nest is not just a collection of insects; it’s a highly organised colony with thousands of individuals working together. Each nest contains:

• A queen ant that lays eggs and controls the colony
• Worker ants that forage, clean, and defend the nest
• Nurseries for eggs, larvae, and pupae
• Food storage chambers
• Ventilation tunnels and hidden exits

In the wild, these nests operate like small cities beneath the surface. Indoors, they can establish within wall voids, under floors, and inside electrical fittings.

Where Do Ants Build Their Nests in UK Homes?

In South Oxfordshire, ant nests can turn up in surprisingly common places. Typical nesting sites include:

• Under patio slabs, block paving, and decking
• Inside cavity walls, skirting boards, or behind tiles
• In roof spaces and loft insulation
• Behind kitchen units and integrated appliances

What seems like a minor outdoor trail often leads to a fully functioning nest just beneath your feet.

How Big Can an Ant Nest Be?

Ant nests can house anywhere from 5,000 to over 20,000 ants depending on the species. In warmer months, these colonies grow rapidly. Some nests can stretch several metres underground and have multiple entry and exit points.

That’s why treating the visible area alone never resolves the full problem.

Types of Ants and Their Nesting Habits

Black Garden Ant (Lasius niger)

• Most common in UK gardens and kitchens
• Nests under paving and sometimes within brickwork
• Forms highly visible foraging trails during summer

Pharaoh Ant

• Smaller in size, yellow-brown in colour
• Infests warm indoor environments, often in flats or commercial kitchens
• Colonies can split and spread if not treated properly

Ghost Ant

• Rare but increasing in UK buildings
• Nests in wall cavities and near moisture
• Difficult to detect due to translucent bodies

How Do Ant Colonies Grow?

In late summer, established nests release winged males and queens during what’s known as the nuptial flight. These flying ants mate in mid-air and form new nests elsewhere.

In Didcot and Wallingford, this event usually occurs after warm, humid days and can lead to multiple colonies forming around one property.

Why Surface Sprays Don’t Work

Using DIY sprays or vinegar may kill visible ants but won’t touch the nest. In fact, the colony may detect the chemical and relocate, making the infestation harder to track.

Colonies respond to disruption by sending more scouts or splitting into sub-nests (a behaviour called “budding”), especially with species like Pharaoh ants.

How to Get Rid of Ant Nests

Eradicating an ant nest properly requires understanding how the colony functions. Professional pest control targets the nest at the source using:

• Insecticidal gels taken back to the queen and larvae
• Fine dusting powders for hard-to-reach cavities
• Monitored bait stations to track nest activity

Long-term solutions include identifying all ingress points and applying external perimeter treatments around patios, vents, and entry doors.

Ant Control in Didcot and Wallingford

At Shire Pest Solutions in Didcot, we know local conditions allow ant colonies to thrive in gardens, sheds, and beneath buildings. We’ve dealt with large infestations across OX11, as well as in nearby areas like Wallingford, Benson, and Cholsey.

Whether it’s ants in your kitchen, utility room or bathroom, our technicians deliver quick, discreet, and effective treatment plans tailored to your home.

Final Thoughts

Ant nests are more than an annoyance—they’re complex systems hidden out of sight. If left unchecked, a colony will only grow, multiply, and find new ways into your home.

Understanding the facts about ant nests helps you act early and effectively. And when DIY methods fall short, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals.

📞 Call Shire Pest Solutions today for fast ant control in Didcot, Wallingford and across South Oxfordshire.
📚 Explore more seasonal advice on our pest control blog.