A lot of ant nests are not hidden in some dramatic underground chamber.
They are usually in practical, sheltered places that stay fairly dry and fairly undisturbed. BPCA says nest entrances are often marked by small piles of earth pellets, while the Natural History Museum says black garden ants commonly nest in dry soil, under paving slabs or stones, and in patios and other dry, open places warmed by sunlight.
That is why people often notice the ants first and the nest later.
In gardens, ants often favour dry ground and sheltered hard edges.
The Natural History Museum says black garden ants nest in flower beds and lawns, and under paving slabs or stones, with patios being a favoured location. RHS also notes that ants can nest in compost heaps or bins.
So common outdoor nesting spots include:
Those are the places most worth checking if you can see repeated ant traffic outside.
Ants do not have to nest deep inside the building to become a household problem.
A nest under paving, near a doorstep, beside the wall, or close to a patio can still send workers straight into the kitchen or utility room. BPCA’s advice to follow ants between food and the nest is useful here, because the nest may be just outside while the foraging happens inside.
That is one reason indoor ant activity often seems worse than the nest location actually is.
This is where the problem becomes less straightforward.
BPCA says Pharaoh’s ants may have multiple, often inaccessible nests within the building structure, especially in centrally heated blocks. It also says ghost ants are becoming more common in heated buildings and that control should be left to professionals.
So while black garden ants are the usual home invader, some ant species can be more of a true structural pest.
You do not always need to dig around to find it.
BPCA says nest entrances may be marked by small piles of earth pellets and can often be located by watching ants moving back and forth from food to the nest. The Natural History Museum also notes that in the weeks before flying ant swarms, you may see heaps of soil above nests.
So if you see a repeated trail ending at a crack in paving or a small patch of disturbed soil, that is often the clue you need.
The logic is not complicated.
They want somewhere fairly safe, fairly dry, and close enough to food. The Natural History Museum says black garden ants prefer dry, open areas warmed by sunlight. RHS adds that nest building can disturb soil around roots and in lawns, which fits with the sort of locations they favour outdoors.
In plain English, ants like places that are easy to build in and easy to operate from.
If ants keep appearing indoors or around the same part of the garden, it is usually worth looking just outside the obvious room first.
The nest may be under paving, close to the wall, or in another quiet outdoor spot rather than deep inside the house. If you can see repeated ant routes but are not sure where they lead, Pest Gone can help you work out whether the nest is likely to be in the garden, close to the building, or somewhere more awkward inside the structure.
