General Characteristics:
- Body 1/16 inches in length (monomorphic)
- Antennae have 12 segments with a 3-segmented club
- Shiny black in colour
- Workers prey on insects and feed on honeydew produced by plant sucking insects such as aphids
- Queens may live approximately one year; workers may live about four months
Reproduction:
- Colonies are moderately sized to large, containing up to 2,000 workers and many queens
- Colonies consist almost exclusively of workers and brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) during most of the year, but winged males and females are produced during the summer
- It is presumed that most nests are established by one or two queens
- Nests can be found in the soil in open areas of lawns or under objects such as stones, bricks, wood and logs
- In buildings, they nest in woodwork, wall voids, masonry, and under carpets
Signs of Infestation:
- May become widely dispersed throughout a structure and invade nearly every crack and crevice
- They are highly visible on established foraging trails, particularly when they invade food cabinets and pantries
Control Techniques:
- Remove all litter and objects under which ants can nest
- Seal all cracks in exterior walls where ants can enter. PLEASE REMEMBER NOT TO SEAL ANY STRUCTURAL BREATHING HOLES AS THESE ARE NECESSARY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF MOISTURE THROUGH VOID AREAS IN A STRUCTURE.
- Limit food source trough proper sanitation and ensuring all food is kept in sealed containers
- Baiting programs and residual treatments can be effective against this species
Please click here to contact a Focus Pest Control professional to inquire about further treatments for this pest species.
References:
Benett, Gary W., et.al.. Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. Duluth: Advanstar Communications, 1988. Pp. 188.
Texas A&M University (Dept. of Entomology). “Little Black Ant, Monomorium minimum”(on-line). Accesses Aug 24, 2009 at http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/little_black.cfm.
Disclaimer:
The Focus Pest Control ‘Pest Library’ is an educational resource written largely to educate the general public about common pests in Ontario. The Focus ‘Pest Library’ does not include all species in Ontario, nor does it include the most recent scientific data about species we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While Focus Pest Control staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.
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