Pest controllers are warning householders to prepare for Flying Ant Day and protect their homes from them breeding near food and in crevices.
In late July and early August, the insects begin to emerge from their nests to mate and infestations will only get worse from around now.
Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kerry and Tipperary are the top five counties for ant callouts in 2020.
Rentokil’s Richard Faulkner said: “Late July and early August is when we see this phenomenon occur.
“While it is often labelled as ‘flying ant day’, it is in reality an extended period of time where we see increased activity from the insects. Ants will most likely enter a premise in search of food and while ant infestations don’t present a danger to inhabitants, they can be a nuisance, and a small problem can quickly become a large one.
“If they find a food source, ants can lay down a pheromone trail which attracts other ants to the area.”
Mr Faulkner has some top tips to avoid the insect breeding frenzy.
- Clear up any food or liquid spillages immediately
- Sweep up crumbs under cupboards and microwaves
- Make sure that uneaten food from pets is binned straight away
- Keep windown and doors shut, and
- Seal cracks and crevices around doors and window frames.
