Black house ants are common pests throughout Australia. They invade homes in search of food and moisture and will build nests along sidewalks and foundations. Although these little ants aren’t dangerous, they can be a real nuisance. Radar Pest Control can help you deal with these little black house pests.
Identification
Black house ants are a very small species of ant. Measuring only 2.5 mm in length, they tend to be shiny black or dark brown in color. Black house ants look like other species, but they can be distinguished by their prominent petiole (narrow waist), and antennae that are divided into 12 parts and end in a 3 part club.
Behavior
Black house ants can sting, but since they are so small, it is not problematic. This species of ant tends to live in decomposing wood, lawns, rocks, and gardens, but they often enter homes in search of food and water. They are particularly attracted to sweet liquids. In the outdoors, this means that they especially like honeydew produced by aphids. Indoors, sugary spills and sweet food is their favorite. They are omnivores, so they will also eat other insects, vegetables, oily foods, and more.
Black house ants search for food by following each other in characteristic lines. Their colonies can have thousands of workers that bring back food for the whole colony. This makes them especially frustrating for homeowners. Many people will try to spray the ant lines that they see in their kitchen, only to have them come back time and time again.
Control
Black house ant control may involve sanitation, exclusion, and insecticides. Follow these tips to help control black house ants:
- Keep your home, especially the kitchen, clean and free of crumbs and spills
- Take out the rubbish regularly
- Seal the exterior of your home
- Add sweeps to the bottom of doors
- Fix any excess moisture problems, including leaky pipes and faucets
- Use ant baits or an insecticide
- Contact a Buderim pest control specialist