Black Garden Ants
The black garden ant, frequently found on sweet foods inside homes, is small. In the summer, numerous winged adults gather to mate and then scatter to establish new colonies.
These ants form vast colonies consisting of a queen that lays eggs and numerous workers responsible for foraging food, maintaining the nest’s cleanliness, and caring for the young ants. Each colony comprises thousands of individuals.
The queen ants of the black garden species possess a dark appearance with black bodies and dark brown or black reddish legs and antennae. These queen ants have a length of approximately 9mm and a lifespan of up to 29 years. In contrast, the worker ants are smaller, measuring around 3-5mm, and have a black colour with reddish legs and antennae.
The black garden ants typically reside underneath bricks and flowerpots within garden regions and are frequently observed between pavements and curbs in urban settings. Additionally, these insects tend to invade houses in search of food.
During their flight, the reproductive ants mate for approximately two to three hours before returning to the ground. It is common for birds to prey on these ants during their mating flight. After the mating period, the male ants die, while the female ants discard their wings and construct their chambers within suitable soil nests.
Following the establishment of a new colony, the queen ant lays eggs and assumes responsibility for rearing the larvae until they mature into adults. Once the larvae have developed, the queen’s workers gather food, nurture the larvae, and defend the eggs. Towards the beginning of the summer season, the queen produces specific eggs that give rise to fertile-winged males and females.
Subsequently, the matured fertile adults engage in mating flight, after which the successfully mated females become prepared to create new colonies.
The Threat Ants Pose
Although ants do not possess the capability to transmit diseases in the way that flies do, they tend to accumulate bacteria from the unsanitary surfaces they traverse. If worker ants, for instance, access a dustbin or garbage and subsequently move onto your kitchen counter, there is a high likelihood that they will disseminate harmful microorganisms. Therefore, it is crucial to prevent their entry into your residence.
Prevention
To deter ants from entering your dwelling, it is advisable to obstruct all possible entryways. This entails sealing off doors, skirting boards, tiles, wall crevices, and other openings. In addition, any required repairs should be conducted promptly to avoid creating opportunities for these insects to gain access to your residence.
Since kitchen floors may contain crumbs or uncovered cereal packets, it is a commonplace for black garden ants to become attracted to such items. Therefore, maintaining a clean kitchen floor is crucial. Furthermore, in households with pets, promptly disposing of unconsumed pet food is recommended, as this can entice these ants into your abode.
Black Garden Ants Removal Services
At Tom’s Pest Control, we provide superior pest control services for residential and commercial properties. If you suspect your property has been infested with black garden ants, you must consult us.
Our team of expert exterminators, who possess extensive training and knowledge, will thoroughly inspect every nook and cranny of your property to locate the areas where these pests are lurking. Following this, we will employ appropriate strategies to permanently eliminate these creatures from your residence based on the extent of the infestation.
Although we aim to provide top-notch pest control services, we do not prioritize this over your safety. Instead, our team utilizes special products and techniques to eliminate black garden ants and their colonies from your property, thereby ensuring the safety and well-being of you and your family.
Speak to Us
Tom’s Pest Control will assist you if troublesome black garden ants have infested your property. We recognise that managing an ant swarm can be a more significant problem than it appears, and we are determined to eliminate them as swiftly and effectively as possible.
Our knowledgeable team can assess the extent of the infestation and devise a successful plan to eradicate all traces of the ants from your property, enabling you to resume your life without the inconvenience of these unwanted visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do Black Garden Ants Eat?
Black garden ants have a diverse diet, including fruits, seeds, leftovers, and other small insects. So, if a dead insect is on your property, there’s a good chance these ants will be attracted to it. Additionally, black garden ants are known to consume the sweet secretions produced by aphids.
Where Do They Live?
Black garden ants tend to make their nests in dry soil and humus, but they can also be found under paving stones, in flower beds, and on lawns. They search for food over large areas, creating paths across soil and vegetation.
How do I Identify These Ants?
Although ant workers are tiny, their tiny waists are striking. These creatures are usually brown-black and work tirelessly under the sun without wings. However, a more noticeable adult species of ants can also fly.
Although they belong to the same species, there are notable differences in appearance between ant workers and flying adults. Despite this, both types have crucial roles in the survival and growth of ant populations.
