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68
Foods of a relatively high sugar content are particularly attractive
to ants and the insects are prepared to go to great lengths in
order to obtain a sufficiency for their community.
In the main, complaints received concerned either the black
garden ant (Lasius niger) or the yellow meadow ant (L. flavis), the
workers of which will gain access to houses through cracks in the
walls or floors, over sills or through window frames in search of
food and 89 treatments were carried out to combat the reported
nuisances.
One of the commonest of ants, the very small red House or
Pharoah's ant (Monomorium pharaonis) was also the cause of a
number of complaints.
This species, being of tropical origin, is incapable of breeding
in England without artificial heat. A temperature of approximately
80°F is considered to be ideal for its propagation and ipso facto it
is found infesting bakehouses, restaurants, hospitals and houses,
especially in larders and kitchens and nests may be found behind
wall plasters, behind pipes or ovens, in heating ducts and under
floor coverings and foundations.
As in previous years this pest was encountered at two of the
large hospitals in the Borough where, despite intensive investigation
the sources of infestation were not located.
The total number of treatments carried out in respect of this
ant was 54, an increase of 17 over the previous year.
Although the treatments effected a reasonable measure of
success, complete control can be achieved only by the destruction
of the colonies, for once ants become established in a building,
complete elimination is extremely difficult Locating each individual
nest, especially in old buildings, is not only extremely
difficult but commercially impractical. As usual, prevention
offers the best solution to the problem namely,
(a) to block or obstruct the entry of the ant,
(b) to keep premises clear and free from crumbs and scraps
of food,
(c) to seal holes and cracks through which ants could enter and
(d) to use an effective insecticide, preferably of a residual
nature.
Cockroaches. The cockroach (Blatta orientalis) and its smaller
relative (Blattella germanica) are well known for their destructiveness,
especially in relation to stored organic matter, ranging from
foodstuffs to book bindings. Food is rendered repulsive from
contamination not only with their faeces but also with the