The builders boarded the ceiling and then put the thin silver multilayer insultation sheeting down. Not sure if they put anything else on top of the insultation other than battens. The tiles on top are the curved type that are just laid one over another, like this:
Inside, where the roof meets a stone wall by the stairs there is a gap and occasionally we get fine grit or “frass” dropping down the wall and onto the stairs - typically it happens after a high wind and I have always assumed we have ants in the roof and these are bits from their nests blown into the house.
I’d be grateful for thoughts on all of this.
Are these dead ants? Or something more sinister?
Do I need to get in pest controllers?
Can we just manage it all by letting the ants do their own thing in the roof and just blocking up their access points into the cottage?
This is one of the places where the fine grit gets in:
Best not to have ants in the house/roof, they will eat wood, insulation etc. When I’ve come across them, I’ve used a strong (non supermarket) aerosol with strategically placed traps. @Rob_le_Pest will have a better idea though.
I’d like to have a photo of a live specimen if poss.
The insects are swarming, so female queens and males looking to fertilise the afore-mentioned. They will only fly once. I’d rather see a ‘normal’ non-flying version.
They look like ants, but they are very small to be up in the roof.
You’ll need to do some wood tapping to test the firmness of the wood.
I’m in Dept 12 next week (your tiles suggest the lower half of France) , then Dept 50 the week after.
Happy to advise, but I can’t say yay or nay regarding sinister just yet!
Hello Rob, thank you for your reply. Live specimens I have never seen upstairs, only the tiny ones around the hall and downstairs bathroom.
This is the first time I’ve seen dead winged ones upstairs (the cottage remains shut through winter and I’ve only just found them).
The visible wood over my head in the bedroom ceiling is fine. I assumed any nests were above the beams and the wooden ceiling tucked in the silver insulation material, under the tiles.
You’re right about where we are - Lot et Garonne - we’re about 3 hours from Rodez. I hardly dare ask, but if you could come and see, I’d be so grateful - of course you would be welcome to stay in our cottage - we have an ant-free bedroom!
Whilst they are very small insects, if the multifoil had been fitted well by the builders it should have been air sealed against the walls as air passages are how we lose or gain most heat in a roof or other places. Sadly a lot of builders think the presence of insulation is enough where it needs fitting properly to work well.
Hello Rob, sorry, I’ve been slow to respond - doctors’ appointments!
Hope these photos are clearer. Since they all very definitely have waists I’m assuming they are not sinister - only in so far as ants can be a nuisance. What do you suggest please?
Hi Sue, thanks for the updated photos. Ants will swarm usually once a year, rarely twice.
If that’s the first time that you’ve noticed them (and after high winds) I think you said that you’ve never seen live 'uns, personally I wouldn’t worry.
I’d be loathed to recommend chemical treatments especially if one has health issues.
See how they behave for a few weeks, if they keep themselves to themselves, then embrace the house guests.
Just remember to sleep with your mouth closed during swarm season, although they are full of protien and their formic acid is good for gout
Hello Rob, thanks for the reassurance. In that case I will hoover up what’s around and keep an eye out for any new activity. And keep my mouth shut - no gout fortunately.
