Ants cause problems primarily when they forage in buildings for food or water, or when they construct nests in buildings and gardens.  When searching for food, ants can be attracted to a wide range of products, with different species preferring sweets, meats, farls or oils.  They will also search indoors for water during dry periods.  When desirable items are found many species will recruit fellow nest mates to help gather the food and return it to the nest.  This can result in large numbers of ants appearings over a short period of time.

Of all insects that infest buildings, ants are the most common.  There are many different species of ant.  Each is unique in terms of nesting sites, habits, characteristics and feeding preferences.