Ants (Household Ants)/ Red Imported
Fire Ants Control
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Ants belong to the insect order
Hymenoptera and are close relatives of bees and wasps.
They are familiar insects that are easily recognized,
especially in their common wingless adult forms, known as
workers. However, winged forms of ants, which leave the
nest in large numbers in warm weather to mate and
establish new colonies, are often mistaken for winged
termites, which also leave their nests to mate. Ants and
termites can be distinguished by three main
characteristics:
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The ant’s body is constricted, giving
it the appearance of having a thin waist; the termite’s
body is not constricted.
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The ant’s hind wings are smaller than
its front wings; the termite’s front and hind wings are
about the same size. (Shortly after their flights, both
ants and termites lose their wings, so wings may not
always be present.)
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Winged female and worker ants have
elbowed antennae; the termite’s antennae are not
elbowed.
Common household ants
 Nest
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Ants usually nest in soil;
nest sites vary with species but are often
found next to buildings, along sidewalks, or
in close proximity to food sources such as
trees or plants that harbor honeydew-producing
insects. |
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They also
construct nests under boards, stones, tree
stumps or plants, and sometimes under
buildings or other protected places. |
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Ants often enter buildings
seeking food and water, warmth and shelter, or
a refuge from dry, hot weather or flooded
conditions. They may appear suddenly in
buildings if other food sources become
unavailable or weather conditions change. |
| • |
In temperate
climates the pharaoh ant nests indoors
preferring warm, moist locations, often in
wall voids, under flooring, or near hot water
pipes or heating systems but is also found
nesting outdoors in warmer parts |
See
Attachment for nesting sites of other species (sourced
from: UC IPM Online)
Colony
| • |
A new colony is
typically established by a single newly mated queen.
After weeks or months of confinement underground,
she lays her first eggs. |
| • |
After the eggs
hatch, she feeds the white, legless larvae with her
own metabolized wing muscles and fat bodies until
they pupate. |
| • |
Several weeks
later, the pupae transform into sterile female adult
workers, and the first workers dig their way out of
the nest to collect food for themselves, for the
queen (who continues to lay eggs), and for
subsequent broods of larvae. |
| • |
As numbers
increase, new chambers and galleries are added to
the nest. After a few years, the colony begins to
produce winged male and female ants, which leave the
nest to mate and form new colonies. |
Red Imported Fire Ant
Introduction
Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis invicta, which were
recently reported locally belong to the genus of insects
called Solenopsis and are in the family Formicidae. The
ant was first reported from South America and spread to
other parts of America, Australia and China. At least 266
species of the genus have been reported from various
countries. Compared with the only species, Solenopsis
geminata, previously found locally, Red Imported Fire Ants
are more aggressive and attack anything that disturbs
their mounds (nests) or food source. Unlike honey bees,
red fire ants can sting repeatedly. However, they will not
transmit diseases through their stings.
Identification of Red Imported Fire Ants
The Red Imported Fire Ants can be distinguished from other
ants by some characteristics. These ants are of medium
size ranging from 3 to 6 mm in length (which are about the
same size as those ants commonly found indoors). They have
a 2-segmented pedicel (waist) and a sting at the end of
the abdomen. Their bodies are usually red to brown in
colour, with a darker abdomen. They possess a pair of
compound eyes and 10-segment antennae with the last 2
segments form a segmented club. The ant has three
projecting structures (so called "teeth") coming out from
the clypeus, which is the front part of the head, and four
projecting structures ("teeth") at the edges of the
mandibles (upper jaw).
Biology of Red Imported Fire Ants
Red Imported
Fire ants undergo complete metamorphosis which includes 4
stages: eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. These adults
include winged, black-bodied males, red-brown winged
females, one or more queens and wingless workers. Their
colonies are individually established by newly mated
queens following a mating flight.
The ants build
their nests in form of mounds in almost any type of soil,
but prefer open, sunny areas or partially shaded ones. The
mounds may be built under logs, rocks or other materials
lying on the ground. They usually have no obvious entry
hole. They are, on average, 250 mm to 610 mm in diameter
and 450 mm high. But larger mounds are not uncommon. The
mounds are dome-shaped in appearance and served with
tunnels which can be up to 10 m long. The mounds could be
2 m deep inside the ground. As the ants are attracted by
electricity, their nests may be found in buildings and
equipment around electricity systems.
Behaviour
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Feed on living insects, dead animals, and honeydew from
honeydew-producing insects
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In homes, forage on sweet foods, proteins, and fats
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Extremely aggressive; if disturbed, will swarm out of
nests and attack in large numbers; can inflict a very
painful sting
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Travel in distinct trails along foundations, sidewalks,
patios, up sides of buildings, along baseboards, and under
edges of carpets
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Colonies may split and move to new locations
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Department
(Tackling
Red Imported Fire Ant...click for more details)
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Call
us 2481-3988
