Key Features of Black Ants
The most common species of ant that invades households within UK is the black garden ant. The black garden ant is actually very dark brown & the worker ants, which measure approximately 3.5 mm are extremely likely to enter properties whilst looking for food.
All anatomies of all ants includes a head that is distinctly separated by very narrow waists. They also possess a sharp elbow joint in their antennae.
Biology
Ants are social insects which are highly organised. Each nest is centred around the queen which is a reproductive female. Her sterile daughters will act as the workers for the nest.
It is these foraging workers which will invade properties searching for food, which they will then take back to the nest to feed the queen and her larvae.
“Flying ants” are reproductive males and females and these mating swarms can prove to be nuisance, albeit only for a temporary period.
All of the reproductive females have the potential to be future queens. Typically just after stormy weather, they have a nuptial swarming flight during a few days late summer. Shortly after mating, the males will die and the females will seek out new nesting sites to build new colonies in the following spring.
The nest of Black Ants is usually found within soil but can also be found located under concrete and paving stones. These ants have the potential to become a real nuisance as they regularly enter premises – in particular food preparation areas – searching for food.
