Commercial ant Control

Delivering high impact ant control services across the UK and Ireland.

Free site assessment & quote
Full coverage across UK and Ireland
High impact, tried and tested treatments
Over a decade of ant removal
BPCA & CEPA certified

Why ants are a problem

Ant infestations can pose serious challenges for UK businesses, particularly those in food services, hospitality, and retail. Ants are not only unsightly but some species, such as pharaoh ants, also carry the risk of contaminating food and surfaces with bacteria, potentially impacting health and hygiene standards. Their small size enables them to enter through tiny cracks and settle in kitchens, pantries, and storage areas, making them a persistent issue that’s difficult to control without professional intervention.

Beyond hygiene, ants can damage business reputations. Customers who see ants in a business premises may question cleanliness and safety standards, which could lead to lost sales and negative reviews. For businesses needing continuous pest management, Merlin Environmental offers solutions tailored to prevent and handle ant infestations

Signs of ants

Here are some common signs of an ant infestation:

Visible Ant Trails: Lines of ants often moving between a food source and their nest.
Nest Sites: Small piles of dirt, particularly around floors, walls, or outdoor areas, indicating a nearby nest.
Scattered Ants Indoors: Stray ants, especially near food or moisture sources like sinks and storage areas.
Discarded Wings: Piles of wings left by swarming ants, especially around windows, doors, or other entry points.

Why professional treatment is the solution

Professional treatment is essential for managing pharaoh ants because of their unique behaviours and resilience. These ants can nest in hard-to-reach places, such as wall voids or electrical outlets, and are prone to forming “satellite colonies” if disrupted. DIY methods can worsen infestations by causing colonies to split and spread. Pharaoh ants are also known carriers of pathogens, posing significant health risks, particularly in settings like hospitals and food services.

A professional approach ensures targeted, safe, and effective control, preventing recurrence and maintaining sanitation standards.

Book your free inspection

How we work

Want to know what to expect? Merlin offers a tried-and-tested four-stage commercial pest control process from first contact to aftercare. The table below details each of these four stages.

Contact

Call us and we will arrange for one of our technical team to talk to you.

Local experts
Nationwide coverage

Assessment

We will discuss your commercial pest problem, arrange a free survey, and provide a quote and recommendations.

Assessment at a time convenient to you
Solution tailored to your pest problem
BPCA-certified

Treatment

Our RSPH Level 2-certified technicians will come out to your business to provide your commercial pest treatment.

Treatment at a time convenient to you
Tailored treatment and effective solutions offered
Powerful non-toxic treatments available

Aftercare

We can provide you with a preventative commercial pest control service, with a schedule of visits for specified pests.

Eliminate pest problems in very early stages
Eliminate risks that may result in pest problems.
Effective & discreet solutions

Commercial industries we serve

We offer commercial pest control to businesses of all types and sizes across the UK, from major airlines and hotel chains to offices, shops and care homes. We’re experienced in the nuances of each business sector and operate quickly and discreetly to protect your business from pests. Choose a sector from the list to learn more about our unique, tailored approach.

Transport

Hospitality

Offices

Retail

Care homes

Our services

Emergency service

Do you have an urgent ant problem wreaking havoc on your business or causing revenue loss? We offer an emergency next-day pest control service. Call us today to book a discreet visit from our emergency pest control team.

Proactive pest control

Have you had a problem with different kinds of pests in the past? Don’t wait until they return. We can monitor your premises, catching and eliminating them in their infancy through our highly effective early detection and prevention program.

Why choose Merlin Environmental

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Advanced solutions

Professional pest control for pharaoh ants typically involves a combination of baiting techniques and careful environmental management. Gel or granular baits laced with slow-acting insecticides are used to allow ants to carry the poison back to their colony, effectively targeting the queen and entire colony. Since pharaoh ants are prone to forming satellite colonies, precise bait placement and monitoring by professionals are crucial to avoid colony fragmentation and ensure long-term control.

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No interruption

Merlin Pest Control services are specifically designed to minimise disruption to business operations. We offer flexible out-of-hours visits to ensure treatments are carried out when the premises are not busy, maintaining business continuity. Additionally, Merlin can offer discreet, unmarked vans for customers who don’t want any attention being drawn to pest control activities. This careful approach allows businesses to stay pest-free without alarming customers or interrupting daily activities, ensuring a seamless, professional experience.

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Highly effective

Merlin’s ant pest control is highly effective due to its strategic, science-backed approach that targets colonies at their source. By utilising advanced baiting techniques, coupled with non-toxic heat treatments, and physical control measures, Merlin ensures long-term results without the risk of spreading colonies. Our certified technicians develop tailored solutions, addressing each infestation’s unique requirements to guarantee safe, effective control—ideal for commercial environments where health and reputation are paramount.

Our accreditations

We hold ourselves to a very high standard and we have the accreditations to prove it. We pride ourselves on offering an unrivalled experience in control as well as better quality service, response, and reliability than other pest control companies.

Learn More

Have a ant problem? Speak with an expert today.

Call now: 0800 037 7332

Frequently asked questions

What do black ants look like?

Black ants are small, measuring 4mm in length. Although they are called ‘black ants’ they are in fact very dark brown. The rarely-seen queen ant is 12mm long and is lighter brown in colour. Male drone ants have wings, but the majority of worker ants do not.

How quickly do black ants multiply?

Black ants mate once a year in the air. Swarms of males fertilise the queen who then drops to the ground and bites off her wings so that she can excavate a home underground. Once she has set up a chamber, the queen will lay thousands of eggs continuously for over ten years. Undisturbed, a queen has the capacity to lay millions of eggs in one lifetime.

Where do black ants live?

Black ants set up colonies in soil. As they prefer some protection, they burrow under lawns, paving stones and in the foundations of buildings. Ants do not normally take up home indoors, but as they are happy to travel far for food, you will often see them beating a trail towards the larder.

What are the signs of a black ant infestation?

Ants have a sweet tooth. They will quickly scout out where sugary foods are kept and set up a chemical trail for other ants to follow. If you have an infestation nearby, you will see these ants marching in an orderly line towards their meal.
You will discover ants in your food especially unprotected items such as fruit, cake and sugar.
Little mounds of dirt near walls, on lawns, and in flowerpots are a sign that ants have turned up the soil while building their nests.
Once a year during the summer, you might see swarms of ants mating in mid air.

Does a black ant infestation need controlling?

As black ants are able to enter buildings through tiny openings, they can quickly become a problem in the home or at your business premises.
Although black ants are not carriers of disease, they do cross-contaminate. In other words, they spread germs by marching over infected areas and then continuing onto food and work surfaces.
As they are able to get into boxes and packets of food, they can destroy food stores. This can be a big problem for commercial premises such as bakeries, groceries and restaurants.
Underground ant colonies can damage a plant’s roots by depriving them of food and water. They can also cause unsightly mounds on lawns.
Different types of ant behave and breed in different ways and some modes of extermination can exacerbate the infestation. It is always wise to consult a trained professional to identify the ants.

When can you get here?

At Merlin, we completely understand the need for a swift response to pest control issues. We will always speak to you and find the best time for us to attend. If it's an emergency, we would expect to be there the next working day, or if we have the operatives near your business, we would attend the same day if you could accommodate this. We will always work alongside you to provide the best timings for our visits.

How much does the treatment cost?

This is dependent on the type of work and the severity of the problem. It is very difficult to give pre-pricing, even as a general guide, as the true extent of the issue will only be evident once surveyed and looked at. This is why, as a business, we do not charge for our surveys. The survey stage is also an opportunity to get to know you and your site and explore the problem. Pest control is a bespoke service; one size doesn't fit all. Each pest control offering is different, and is tailored to the site in question.

What do I have to do?

In most cases, before we attend, nothing. It’s only when we have attended the site for the in-depth, free-of-charge survey that we can recommend any points that you may need to do. This can take various forms, from a simple quick clear of clutter to removing shrubs and bushes that are providing harbourage and shelter for pests. But again, no two sites are the same, and understanding the site and its requirements is key to a successful pest control process.

How long will it take to resolve the issue?

It depends on the particular situation. We can confirm this after we have carried out a free, no-obligation site evaluation.

Are there any guarantees?

Yes. We provide either a one, or three-month guarantee depending on the treatment method used. We also guarantee that all work will be carried out by a BPCA certified pest control technician.