ANTS
Family: Formicidae
Appearance:
Adult ants species come in a variety of shapes and sizes but each will be one of three different colony castes; queens, workers or males. Queens are fertile females that lay all the eggs in a colony. Workers are wingless females that gather food, feed larvae, maintain the nest, defend the colony, and do not reproduce. Male ants are winged and their only job is to mate with the queens during the swarming process.
Common Types of Ants
- Black House Ant
- Fire Ant
- Ghost Ant
- Odorous House Ant
- Pharaoh’s Ant
- Carpenter Ant
Black House Ant (Ochetellus)
Appearance
- Shiny and black.
- 5 – 3mm long.
Habits
- These ants are regarded as a nuisance and scavenge in kitchens, garbage and also dog excrement, therefore potentially spreading diseases such as salmonella.
- The most effective control measure is to find the colony and treat it.
Life cycle
- Larva hatches out of the egg as a white grub which is narrower towards the head. They are fed by the adults.
- The larva pupates and appears creamy-white, looking similar to an adult. Sometimes they have a protective silk cocoon around them.
- The adult emerges with the three defined body sections: head, thorax and abdomen.
- The length of time between the egg stage and ants emerging as adults can take 6 weeks or more; it depends on a variety of factors such as the species of ant, the temperature and the availability of food.
- Fertilised eggs become female, unfertilised become males.
Fire Ant (Solenopsis spp)
Appearance
- Queens 5/8″ long.
- Workers 1/8″-1/4″ long.
- Coppery–brown on the head and body, with a darker abdomen.
- Solenopsis has a very distinctive two–segment antennal club, which is most visible in the front view of the female reproductive ant.
Habits
- Foraging workers diet consists of dead animals, including insects, earthworms, and vertebrates. Workers also collect honeydew and forage for sweet food, proteins, and fats.
- Nest locations can be a mound of up to 40 cm or next to objects found on the ground, e.g. logs.
- If aggravated, these react aggressively and can inflict a painful sting, resulting in a pustule some 48 hours later.
- These ants are a major agricultural and urban pest, destroying crops and invading residential areas both outdoors and indoors.
Life cycle
- After swarming from the nest and mating, the queen searches for a suitable spot to lay her eggs. Once found, she can lay up to 125 eggs in late Spring.
- Larvae hatch within 8 to 10 days, and the pupal stage lasts for 9 to 16 days.
- Larvae feed on secretions from the queen’s salivary glands and broken down wing muscles until the first worker ants emerge. After this first batch of larvae moult into workers the queen’s role returns to egg laying – she can lay up to 1500 per day. Worker ants continue with larval care, nest building and food foraging.
- Fertile males are produced later in the season.
Ghost Ant (Tapinoma melanocephalum)
Appearance
- Pale/Translucent legs and abdomen.
- 16mm long.
Life cycle
- Continuous breeding colonies.
Habits
- Feeding – indoors: sweet substances and grease; outdoors: insects that produce honeydew.
- Nesting – indoors: small spaces, wall voids; outdoors: in flowerpots, under objects on the ground, under loose bark.
- Locations – attracted to high moisture areas, can be found in kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
- Colonies can occupy several different nesting sites.
Odorous House Ant (Tapinoma sessile)
Appearance
- Brown or black.
- 1/16 to 1/8 inch long.
- Antennae have 12 segments and are not terminated with a club.
- 6 legs.
Life cycle
- Time to adult phase of development is 34-38 days.
- Typically live for several years.
Habits
- Feeding – eat most household foods, especially sugary food, eg sweets and fruits such as melon. Also eat pet food.
- Locations – attracted to moisture. In hot, dry environments nests can be found in house plants and even lids of toilets.
- Odour – produce a coconut smell when crushed.
- Colonies – range in size from 100-10,000.
Pharaoh’s Ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
Appearance
- Workers 1.5-2mm long, yellow-brown with brown abdomen.
- Males 3mm long, black, winged.
- Queens 3.5-6mm long, dark red in colour with wings.
- Black eyes, 2 small segments at the pedicel.
Life cycle
- Multi-queen colonies.
- Swarming can take place at any time of the year.
- Winged adults seldom fly so rarely seen. Wings are soon lost after mating.
Habits
- Well–defined trails are laid which are often associated with heating systems. Feeds indoors on high protein foods — meat, fats, blood, dead insects, etc.
- Swarming characteristics — new colonies are often formed through nests that have been disturbed e.g., as a result of insecticide spray treatments.
- Each queen produces up to 3,500 eggs in its lifetime.
- Nest locations — deep seated in cavities in heated buildings. Often found in hospitals. Associated with humid conditions. Colonies can range from a few dozen to 300,000 individuals.
Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
Appearance
- Workers: 1/4″ long.
- Queen: 1/2″ long.
- Blackish color most common but can also be black and red.
- 6 legs.
Life cycle
- It takes 3 – 6years to establish a large and stable colony.
- The life cycle of a carpenter ant is estimated to be 6 – 12 weeks from egg to adult.
Habits
- Locations – both moist and dry wood, but prefer moist, e.g. wood dampened by water leaks.
- Internally – excavate galleries in wood with a smooth appearance.
- Externally – sometimes hollow out sections of trees.
- Visibility – hunt for food mainly at night but also during the day in early spring / summer. Signs include sawdust, wet wood, or unusual noises coming from the walls.
- Feeding – primary food is honeydew, also eat plant secretions, fruit juices and insect remains. They do not eat wood. In homes they are attracted to sweet substances, fats, grease and meats.
- Contact – rarely come into contact with people, but if they do will try to escape. They cannot sting.
Ant Infestation Signs
- Live ants – If you’re seeing large numbers of live ants then you may well have a problem. If you find them in your kitchen or in areas where you prepare food, then you need to do something about it fast.
- Ant pathways – ant trails in and out of your home or premises are another sign. Some ant species will lay down a pheromone trail to a food source. This trail leads other ants from the colony to the food source.
- Ant nest – A nest site can look like a small pile of soil or dirt. Some species of ant like to make their home in walls or other quiet, dark places, which are more difficult to spot.
How to Prevent Ants
If you are worried that you might be at risk from an ant infestation, you can put in place some proactive ant deterrent measures. The list below will help you minimise the risk of ant infestation in your home or business premises.
Most ants come into your kitchen to look for food. They are attracted to anything that is sweet and sticky, which is why you will normally find ants in kitchen cupboards or areas where food is kept. To keep ants away, you must remember to:
- Clear up – food and liquid spillages immediately.
- Sweep up – any food crumbs from under your kitchen appliances and units.
- Store your food – in airtight containers wherever possible.
- If you have a pet – clear away any food that isn’t eaten straight away.
- Exclusion – the entry points for ants by sealing all cracks and crevices around your doors and window frames.
- In the garden – keep your compost enclosed and make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids.
- Cover all food – you don’t know where ants have been walking before they march across your food.
Don’t let ants take over your kitchen! Contact Better Care today to get rid of your ant problem and eliminate any stress or pest concerns you have in your home or business.