Black Field Ant - Maheu&Maheu

Black Field Ant Ants

Elimination

The black field ant nests mainly outside. To act effectively, it is important to identify the location of nests, often visible in the form of mounds of earth.

The intervention must be concentrated outside, especially in places where ants are active. Particular attention must be paid to the foundation of the house as well as a strip of land about three meters around it, in order to reduce the risks of infiltration.

Although it is rare for these ants to enter homes, this can sometimes happen. In this case, it is recommended to monitor potential entry points such as cracks or other openings and limit their access to food and water.

The expertise of a qualified technician from our team can also be relevant in order to assess the situation and adequately treat the external perimeter of the house.

Actions

Request assistance from one of our pest management experts

Prevention

Seal the outsides of windows, doors, eaves, chimneys, etc. as completely as possible.

Description and development

Often confused with the Black Carpenter Ant, the Black Field Ant (Formica glacialis ) is approximately 9 mm long. Its color varies from reddish brown to dark brown or black.

Ants are social insects that live in colonies. They have a queen, the only female in the group to have wings at one point in her life and the only one who reproduces. The other females are worker ants who maintain the nest and forage for food. At a specific point that varies by species, the winged males and females leave the colony to mate. This is called swarming, a phenomenon that usually occurs among Black Field Ants toward the end of spring or in summer on hot, and humid days. After copulating, the males die, as they are unable to feed themselves.

After the males die, the fertile females head off to build their nests. Once a queen finds a suitable spot to found a colony, she lays several eggs. The larvae that emerge from these eggs are the nest’s first worker ants. The queen will care for them until there are enough worker ants to take her place and do the work for her. Reproduction, however, remains the queen’s prerogative.

Habits

Most of the time, Black Field Ants build their nest in the grass or under rocks. They do not build nests inside buildings. They feed on live or dead insects and sweet substances. They sometimes invade a house searching for food.

Tips

The ants you see walking around are worker ants. Their job is to find food and bring it back to the nest. Once a worker ant finds a “feast,” she returns to the nest with her treasure while leaving an odor trail of pheromones to mark the way back. But don’t worry; because they are only worker ants, they cannot make a nest inside your home.

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