Ants
Ants are widespread and relatively harmless although they can cause considerable nuisance when they get into houses.
How to prevent or control an infestation
There are a range of products on the market (available from supermarkets, and via the internet for home delivery) which you can use to treat the ants yourself. If you are using such methods yourself you must be careful to follow all the safety instructions. Ant powders and gels are the most effective. Gels are less messy, have a longer lasting effect and are more likely to kill off the nest. These products will not kill all the ants instantly, you may have to leave them down for several weeks before the ants disappear completely.
At certain times of year, when weather conditions are right, winged ants emerge from the nest. These flying ants will normally only appear for a short period. The best way to deal with them is to open windows to let them out or knock them down with a flying insect spray.