Ants Fact Sheet

Ant

Adult Body Length

Adult identification features

Typical areas of occurrence

Phoraoh’s ant

(Monomorium pharaonis)

1.5 – 2.0 mm

Light yellowish brown to darker brown. Top and tip of abdomen slightly darker. 2 nodes on pedicel. No spines on thorax. Antennae clubbed with 3 enlarged segments. No odor when crushed.

Typically forms large colonies with many queens. May travel considerable distances for food. Commonly nests indoors in wall voids, beneath floors, around foundations, in ceilings and in other parts of building. Often nests in warmer parts of buildings (adjacent to heating ducts). Seldom swarms. Feeding habits: Eats almost any type of food material. Prefers high protein materials (eg meat, blood) as well as fatty and vegetable matter. Also attacks sweets.

Black House ant

(Ochetellus spp glaber gp.)

2.2 – 3 mm

Black

Nesting habits: Most commonly nests outside, against paths, in rockeries and other crevices. May nest in cavity walls and sometimes indoors and in subfloor areas. Feeding habits: Eats a variety of food materials, but prefers sweets.

Jumper ants

(Promyrmecia spp.)

13-15 mm

Usually yellow and black. Jumping habit. Very aggressive.

Nesting habits: Typically nests outdoors in soil, building mound type nests located mostly in bushy areas. Seldom enters buildings. Can inflict a very painful sting.